Statistical Preview: Sunderland vs Hull

Gus Poyet’s celebration may have been slightly more muted than Di Canio’s knee slide on the grass in the last Tyne and Wear derby, but this victory was just as important for the Mackems. They host Hull, who held Champions League hopefuls Tottenham to a draw on Saturday.

Sunderland may have brought in a host of new signings in the last transfer window, but arguably the most successful of the group has been midfielder Ki Sung-Yeung, and the midfielder produced another assured display in the centre of the park for Sunderland. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index demonstrates that he completed an impressive 25 passes in the opposition half against the Magpies, the most in the Sunderland squad.

Adam Johnson’s hopes of an international recall will grow more realistic day by day if he maintains his current level of performance. With Walcott injured, the right midfield slot is up for grabs and Johnson showed his excellent wing-play by completing 2 dribbles, the most in the Sunderland squad, and swinging in 3 crosses, also the most. If you fancy Johnson to score again, head to 888sport.com who have him at 5/2 to score at any point.

Local lad Jack Colback will have been delighted to get on the scoresheet against Newcastle, as he has been at the club since the age of 10. Colback was instrumental in Sunderland’s victory, particularly as his hard-tackling helped boss the centre of the park. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index demonstrates that he won 80% of his challenges on Saturday. 

John O’Shea’s 13 defensive contributions on Saturday (based on blocks, clearances, interceptions and tackles won) took his overall tally for the season to 196. This is comfortably the most in the Sunderland squad and demonstrates how vital the former Manchester United man will be to Sunderland’s hopes of staying in the division.

Shane Long’s first goal for Hull was enough to secure a draw against Tim Sherwood’s Tottenham, and moved the Tigers up to 13th in the table.

Shane Long may have scored the goal on Saturday, but fellow striker Nikica Jelavic will have considered himself unlucky not to have got onto the score sheet himself. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index demonstrates that he took 5 shots against Spurs, and hit the target with 3 of them.   

Tom Huddlestone has won plaudits this season for his wide range of passing, but he was clearly prepared to do the dirty work against his former club Tottenham. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Huddlestone won an impressive 75% of his challenges against Spurs.

Steve Bruce was desperate to bring in striker Nikica Jelavic in the January transfer window to help boost his misfiring front line. When examining the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, it’s clear to see why Bruce was desperate to get his man. So far this season, Jelavic has taken a shot at an average of a shot every 29 minutes – this is a better rate than any other player in the Hull squad. Jelavic is 11/4 with 888sport.com to score at any point on Saturday.

As the World Cup draws closer and closer, centre half Curtis Davies must be secretly thinking that he has a chance of making the squad. So far this term Davies has made a total of 306 defensive contributions, this is the fourth most in the league and the second most of any English defender.