Premier League: Swansea v Sunderland match preview

A look ahead to Saturday’s fixture at the Liberty Stadium

Gus Poyet will take charge of Sunderland for the first time against Swansea (GETTY IMAGES)

A trip to Wales greets Gus Poyet with his first game in charge of Sunderland, with the tricky test of Swansea.

Poyet takes over a side with only one point in seven matches so far this season, and the former Brighton manager will look to win over the fans early with a much-needed victory over Michael Laudrup’s Swansea. Swansea will also hope victory will propel them further up the table, currently sitting in 15th and struggling to replicate their form from their League Cup winning season. The Swans are yet to win at home in the League this season, and will hope talisman Michu can continue to add to his goal tally.

KICK OFF: Saturday, 3pm.

PAST MEETINGS...

Sunderland 0 Swansea City 0, Premier League, January 2013

Swansea City 2 (Routledge, Michu) Sunderland 2 (Fletcher x2), Premier League, September 2012

Sunderland 2 (Sessegnon, Gardner) Swansea City 0, Premier League, January 2012

Swansea City 0 Sunderland 0, Barclays Premier League, August 2011

Sunderland 1 Swansea City 1, Division One, March 1983

STATS...

Under Poyet in the 2012/13 season, Brighton had the best defence in the Championship, conceding just 43 goals in 46 games.

Swansea have gone 8 successive home matches without a win in the League, the longest run currently.

In three of their past four meetings in the Premier League, Sunderland have kept a clean sheet against Swansea.

Swans winger Pablo Hernandez is leading the way with 2 assists so far for Swansea, with striker Michu also contributing.

ODDS...

Swansea to win: 1.62

Sunderland to win: 6.8

Draw: 4.2

TV: select highlights on Match of the Day, 10:25pm, BBC1.