LATEST results and form report

Ground: Stadium of Light

Nickname: Black Cats

Manager: Mick McCarthy

Current position: 20th

Top scorer: Kevin Phillips - 9 (5 Premiership)

Last six Premiership: Fulham (away) lost 1-0; Middlesbrough (home) lost 3-1; Spurs (away) lost 4-1; Charlton (home) lost 3-1; Southampton (home) lost 1-0; Everton (away) lost 2-1.

Last time out: Fulham 1 (Saha 85 mins), Sunderland 0.

How they lined up: Sorensen, Wright, Craddock, El Karkouri, Gray (sub McCartney 84 mins), Piper (sub Proctor 80 mins), McAteer, McCann, Kilbane, Phillips, Flo. Not used: Macho, Babb, Arca.

Form report: Until Monday evening when they announced the sacking of Howard Wilkinson, Sunderland did not appear to have a prayer. Six successive defeats - their worst run for 10 years - had them rooted bottom of the Premiership, seven points adrift of the safety zone, although they were unlucky not get anything at Fulham. Now it's a different ball game. New manager, new hope.

Selection update: McCarthy will definitely be without the services of Gavin McCann, who is suspended, and has fitness doubts about Jason McAteer, who picked up a hamstring injury at Fulham, and Kevin Kilbane, who has a cold. Centre-midfield could be his problem area.