Sunderland vs Stoke – Time for Gyan to make an impact

Asamoah Gyan may prove the answer for Sunderland as they look to begin the rebuilding mission following their heavy defeat to Newcastle in the Tyne-Wear derby.

First Goalscorer

Steve Bruce will be forced into making one compulsory change after Titus Bramble was sent off in the Newcastle loss, but it is likely that the axe may be wielded on a number of that team for the home game with Stoke.

Darren Bent has been largely utilised as a lone frontman by Bruce for Sunderland, but one expected move that the boss will make is to start with two strikers.

This will mean that £13m summer signing Gyan should start and he is 5/1 to open the scoring against Stoke.

Bent has been responsible for six of Sunderland’s nine Premier League goals this season and is the obvious favourite at 7/2 to break the deadlock.

The last four meetings between Sunderland and Stoke have ended without the away team managing to score and Sunderland have only been defeated once at home since Boxing Day in 2009.

This makes it hard to predict a Stoke goal, but they do have numerous ex-Sunderland players in their ranks who may be keen to prove a point against their former club.

Kenwyne Jones and Dean Whitehead are two of these players and they are 11/2 and 16/1 respectively to be the game’s first goalscorer.

Match Odds

Stoke have lost five of their last six Premier League away games and it is 5/2 that they improve this record and beat Sunderland.

The home side are 11/10 to beat Stoke and secure maximum points, but goals are likely to arrive at a premium as the last four games between the two at the Stadium of Light have yielded just four goals.

Stoke have not won away against Sunderland since 1994. See the full Sunderland vs Stoke match betting odds market.