Sunderland will be looking to continue their short but sweet run of good form when they host Norwich City this weekend.
After a dismal run of six games without a win, Sunderland have picked up seven points from their last three matches and are keeping touch with the top teams in the Championship.
Regis Le Bris currently has Sunderland on track for promotion, but the Black Cats will need to overcome the challenge of Norwich City on Saturday afternoon.
The Canaries, meanwhile, go into the game sitting right in the middle of the table. So, what can Sunderland expect from their next opponents on the Stadium of Light?
Norwich City are in terrible form away from home
The fact the game takes place at home is a great sign for Sunderland, as Norwich are in woeful form away from Carrow Road this term.
Norwich have not won on their travels in the last seven games, and have only picked up two wins on the road all season.
Meanwhile, Sunderland are unbeaten at home all season, and will certainly fancy their chances of keeping that run going on Saturday.
Johannes Hoff Thorup generally has his team playing open and attacking football, but that has seen the Canaries come unstuck too many times, especially away from home. It would be a big surprise if Norwich set up that way for this game, and Thorup will need to find an alternative plan to handle Sunderland.
It’s hard to know which version of Norwich will show up each week
While Sunderland will be well aware of the style of play Norwich will bring to the Stadium of Light on Saturday, it’s almost impossible to know what version of the team will show up.
Norwich have been wildly inconsistent all season, hence their position slap-bang in the middle of the Championship table. The Canaries have won six games, drawn eight, and lost seven through the campaign, and come into the game on a run of three games without a win.
That could be great news for Sunderland, who will be looking to pile on the misery this weekend. But, it could also mean Norwich are due a win, and they’ll be desperate to spoil the party at the Stadium of Light.
Stop Borja Sainz, and you stop Norwich
The solution to beating Norwich is fairly simple, even if the task itself is not. Borja Sainz is the danger man for the Canaries, and has 15 goals in 21 games so far this season.
The 23-year-old possesses an incredible range of finishing, is super confident, and brings an impressive level of aggression and in-game intelligence with every performance. Put simply, he’s a handful.
Sunderland have great defensive options among their squad, though, and whoever gets the nod from Regis Le Bris this weekend will have to be at their very best to prevent Sainz from causing real damage.