Preview: Sunderland vs. Cardiff City - prediction, team news, lineups

However, despite sitting in fourth position in the standings, they are at risk of being matched on points by their opponents, who have two wins in a row of their own.

Match preview

Having been talk of Tony Mowbray being removed from his position as manager in the summer, the Sunderland hierarchy may have had similar thoughts on the back of starting the season with defeats to Ipswich Town and Preston North End.

Since then, the Black Cats have been magnificent, collecting 13 points from a possible 15 to catapult themselves into the top four of the table.

A remarkable 11 goals have been netted in their most recent three outings against Southampton, Queens Park Rangers and Blackburn Rovers to give Mowbray's side the joint-best attacking record in the division.

While the triumph over QPR was aided by an early dismissal, Sunderland still had to show the ruthless streak required to overturn an early deficit at Loftus Road.

Jack Clarke has been the star of the show with five goals, yet Mowbray will take more pleasure from a total of eight different players getting on the scoresheet in just seven games.

Meanwhile, Cardiff finally look like they have the squad capable of launching a promotion bid after spending time competing at the opposite end of the table.

That was evident even when letting slip a two-goal lead to Leeds United on the opening weekend, but the Bluebirds have responded to currently sit in 10th spot.

Their three wins in question have come from the most recent four fixtures, each of them being recorded in South Wales with Sheffield Wednesday, Swansea City and Coventry City all being edged out.

Erol Bulut will admit that his side were not necessarily overwhelmingly convincing in any of that triple-header, although may contribute to the feel-good factor at the club.

Cardiff now look a constant threat in attack, possessing the joint-third best offensive record in the second tier, and tightening things up in defence will keep them as dark horses for the top six.

Sunderland Championship form:

L

W

D

W

W

W

Cardiff City Championship form:

L

L

W

L

W

W

Cardiff City form (all competitions):

L

W

W

L

W

W

Advert - content below:

Team News

Mowbray may see no reason to move away from the starting lineup from the win over Blackburn, even though Chelsea loanee Mason Burstow failed to make an impact for the second game in succession.

Patrick Roberts is an option to come back into the team, but Mowbray may prefer a recognised number nine for a home fixture.

Jewison Bennette could return to the squad after illness, but Dennis Cirkin, Pierre Ekwah and Bradley Dack need at least another week before coming back into contention.

Aaron Ramsey is in line to be drafted back into the Cardiff XI after being rested for the win over Coventry on Tuesday due to a thigh problem.

Joe Ralls appears most likely to drop out to accommodate the Wales captain's return, while Yakou Meite will hope to get the nod over Ike Ugbo or Ollie Tanner in the final third.

Sunderland possible starting lineup:

Patterson; Hume, O'Nien, Ballard, Huggins; Ba, Bellingham, Neil, Pritchard, Clarke; Burstow

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:

Alnwick; Ng, Goutas, McGuinness, Collins; Wintle, Siopis, Ramsey; Meite, Ugbo, Grant

We say: Sunderland 2-1 Cardiff City

Cardiff are showing the kind of battling qualities that Bulut would have envisaged when he took over in the summer. That should bode them well against an in-form side, yet we can only back free-scoring Sunderland to come through with another three points.

Previews by email