Sunderland vs Luton Town - Match Preview

Team News

Morgan: Impressed last week, should keep his place.

Luton - Luton have pretty much the same set of players to choose from since last week. The only person who won't be considered for the squad is Dean Brill. Deano has gone to Gillingham on an emergency loan after their keeper Kelvin Jack picked up an injury. This probably won't affect team selection, as he wouldn't have been in the squad anyway. There was some doubts over the fitness of winger/striker Dean Morgan. Morgan was substituted with a hip injury in the 2-0 win against Preston North End last week, but he appears to have shaken off any injuries. Luton were handed a boost in midweek with the news that Sol Davis is back in training after continuing his recovery from a stroke. However, tomorrow's game at the Stadium of Light will come far too early for him to make an appearance in. Paul Underwood is still out with an infection, and strikers Sam Parkin and Calvin Andrew won't play a part due to injuries. Adam Boyd will probably be on the bench as he continues a recovery from an injury that has sidelined him, but Newell is unlikely to change a team that played so well against the league leaders last Saturday. Therefore, Chris Coyne won't play a part either, despite making good progress on a recovery from various knee injuries.

Predicted Team - Kiely (GK), Emanuel (DL), Foley (DR), Barnett (DC), Heikkinen (DC), Brkovic (ML), Edwards (MR), Robinson (MC), Bell (MC), Morgan (SC), Vine (SC)

Sunderland - Sunderland have a few injury problems ahead of the match tomorrow. Striker Chris Brown has returned to training this week after injury, but probably won't play tomorrow, and the same applies to young goalkeeper Ben Alnwick. Right-backs Stephen Wright and Nyron Nosworthy are both out of the match, and stand in right-back Dean Whitehead, who usually plays as a striker, is also struggling with an injury. Kenny Cunningham is also out of the match, but Stanislav Varga will return from suspension for tomorrow. Sunderland have recently been in excellent form. They are unbeaten in five games and have won the last two games as well as the last two home games. They are 13th in the table with 30 points, not far off the play-offs but only five ahead of Luton. Luton also have a very bad record at Sunderland, with the last victory there in 1973-74, and only two before that, in 28 appearances. Sunderland have also got a better record at Kenilworth Road than Luton, so overall Sunderland win the head-to-head 30-13. The last meetings between the two sides was in the League Cup, with Sunderland winning 3-0 at home and 2-1 at Luton. So the omens aren't good then.
Prediction
Luton look like they're back in business again, but on the other hand we're playing an in-form team, so we may struggle. However, if our defence can carry on the way they're playing, I think we can get a 1-1 draw, with Morgan getting an overdue goal.

Roy Keane:Sunderland manager