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

The hosts, meanwhile, have the chance to claim back-to-back wins after beating Stoke City 1-0 last weekend.

Match preview

Newly-promoted Sunderland have started the new season in promising form, losing just one of their opening five league games.

Having picked up eight points this season, the Black Cats currently sit in fifth place, with two points separating them from Sheffield United in top spot.

Despite beginning the season with a positive run of results, Sunderland entered last weekend's encounter with Stoke without a win in three matches in all competitions.

Alex Neil's side need just one goal to take the three points home from the bet365 stadium, which came courtesy of Ross Stewart's strike in first-half stoppage time.

Sunderland will look to claim their first home victory of the season after drawing their two opening games at the Stadium of Light this season.

Meanwhile, Norwich began the season with one point from their opening three matches, but they secured their first league win of the season at the fourth time of asking.

Huddersfield Town were beaten 2-1 before Norwich managed to follow their first victory of the campaign with a 2-0 win over Millwall last weekend.

Josh Sargent netted a second-half brace to brush aside the Lions, ensuring that the Canaries entered their midweek EFL Cup tie against Bournemouth in a confident mood.

Norwich took the lead on two occasions against their Premier League opponents thanks to goals from Jordan Hugill and Adam Idah, but a 92nd-minute equaliser from Brooklyn Genesini took the contest to penalties.

Bournemouth scored all five of their spot kicks to knock Norwich out of the EFL Cup, but the Canaries will turn their attention back to league matters on Saturday as they look to pick up their first away points of the season.

Sunderland Championship form:

Sunderland form (all competitions):

Norwich City Championship form:

Norwich City form (all competitions):

Team News

Sunderland will be unable to call upon the services of Carl Winchester and Leon Dajaku, who are unavailable due to back and thigh problems, while Daniel Ballard is also sidelined.

Corry Evans and Bailey Wright were both introduced at half time against Stoke, and the pair could be brought into the starting lineup for Saturday's contest.

Stewart and Ellis Simms have both scored three goals apiece this season, and they will continue to form the forward partnership for Sunderland.

As for Norwich, they are without the services of a number of players, with Sam Byram, Jakob Sorensen, Sam McCallum, Isaac Hayden and Dimitris Giannoulis all currently injured.

Dean Smith changed his entire starting XI for the midweek EFL Cup encounter against Bournemouth, and the Norwich boss could revert to the lineup that started against Millwall last weekend.

Sargent will be looking to continue his fine goalscoring form after scoring three goals in his last two appearances.

Sunderland possible starting lineup:

Patterson; Wright, Batth, Cirkin; Gooch, Embleton, Evans, Clarke; Pritchard; Simms, Stewart

Norwich City possible starting lineup:

Krul; Aarons, Omobamidele, Hanley, McLean; Dowell, Gibbs, Nunez; Sinani, Hernandez, Sargent

We say: Sunderland 1-1 Norwich City

Norwich have lost both of their away games this season, but we think that they will take a point from Saturday's contest when they face a Sunderland side who have drawn both of their home matches this term.

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