Martin O'Neill was at Eppleton Colliery Welfare's windswept ground on Thursday watching Sunderland reserves thrash their Manchester United counterparts 6-3 with Ryan Noble scoring four times. O'Neill will surely not dare to dream of marking his debut as Sunderland manager by dissecting Blackburn in similarly ruthless fashion but remains optimistic of choreographing a much needed home win. While Noble, who has recovered from serious back and knee injuries to score 11 goals in seven reserve games, hopes to feature, Blackburn's renascent striker Yakubu plans to spoil the Wearside party. Louise Taylor

Venue Stadium of Light

Tickets Sold out

Last season Sunderland 3 Blackburn 0

Referee P Walton

This season's matches 7 Y22, R1, 3.29 cards per game

Odds Sunderland 17-20 Blackburn 16-5 Draw 12-5

Sunderland

Subs from Carson, Bramble, Elmohamady, Colback, Meyler, Ji, Noble, McLean, Laing, Cook, Egan

Doubtful O'Shea (groin), Bendtner (groin), Bardsley (ankle)

Injured Gordon (knee, late Dec), Campbell (knee, late Dec), Wickham (knee, Jan), Mignolet (nose and eye, Jan)

Suspended None Form guide LLDLDW

Discip' record Y29 R1 Leading scorer Larsson 4

Blackburn

Subs from Roberts, Olsson, Salgado, Petrovic, Vuckevic, Bunn, Hanley, Henley, Slew, Goodwillie, Anderson, Blackman Doubtful Olsson (hamstring), Rochina (wisdom teeth)

Injured Nelsen (knee, Dec), Grella (hip, unknown)

Suspended Nzonzi (third match of three)

Form guide WLDLDL

Disciplinary record Y32 R2

Leading scorer Yakubu 9

Match pointers

• Sunderland have won three and lost none of their last six league meetings with Blackburn

• The visitors have dropped the joint-most points from winning positions this season (nine)

• The hosts have lost their last two games 2-1 having scored first on both occasions

• The last time Blackburn had fewer points after 14 games was in the 1998-99 season, when they ended up getting relegated

• Sunderland have won just two of their last 15 league games at the Stadium of Light