Martin O'Neill's first anniversary as Sunderland manager arrived this week with the Black Cats mired in the Barclays Premier League's bottom four - but it is nothing the Northern Irishman has not been through before as he prepares to meet Chelsea.

Having taken over from Steve Bruce with Sunderland in a similar position, O'Neill made an instant impact and appeared to have turned things around, but the end of the campaign was tough and they have carried on in the same vein this season.

The Black Cats head into Saturday's home clash with the Blues having won only two of their last 22 league games and stuck one point above the relegation zone.

But O'Neill remains confident there are much better times ahead, and he has the experience to back it up.

He said: ``I've been in management 20 years. I've had tougher times at other clubs and we've come through them. When I went to Leicester City, the first 10 or 11 games I couldn't win a match to save my life.

``We turned that round and were pretty successful.

``The first year at Aston Villa was exceptionally tough indeed. We'll pull round and, inevitably I hope, we'll get a team that the supporters are really proud of.

``It's been a tough start to the season. It hasn't come as any major surprise to me. The team is essentially the same as last season so it's a tough struggle, but we'll get there.''

As well as his own experience, O'Neill also believes last season's struggles put Sunderland in a good position to turn things around. He said: ``There's lots of elements attached to this. The unity is very important of course but the players this time last year were in a similar position so we've got a bit of experience of that.

``We'd obviously hope that experience plus the spirit that exists in the squad would give us a headstart.''

Defender John O'Shea and striker Steven Fletcher are both in contention.

O'Shea is the more likely to feature having trained this week following a calf injury, while leading scorer Fletcher will be assessed on Friday.

The Scot was forced off at half-time in last weekend's defeat by Norwich with an ankle problem and saw a specialist this week.

Captain Lee Cattermole is expected to be out for another two months after damaging knee ligaments.

Chelsea received mixed news on the injury front with John Terry's unavailability for the FIFA Club World Cup tempered by the imminent return of Frank Lampard.

Terry has been advised against travelling to the tournament in Japan due to the possibility that his recovery from knee ligament damage may be hampered by inflammation during the 12-and-a-half hour flight.

Interim manager Rafael Benitez has refused to set a date for his comeback, but was able to confirm that Lampard will participate in Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Sunderland.

Lampard has been sidelined since October with a calf problem but has been passed fit, while Daniel Sturridge could feature in the Club World Cup but will not play at the Stadium of Light following his battle with a hamstring injury.

Chelsea depart for Japan on Saturday evening and while Benitez admitted Terry was disappointed to have missed out, he understands his rehabilitation requires patience.

``John was quite excited about the competition because it was something different and a great opportunity,'' the Spaniard said.

``But we had to be cautious because of his knee problem. He wanted to go and to help, but it's better that he stays.

``We don't know when he'll play. With this type of problem you have to wait and see how he reacts.

``He's training very hard, but knees are a special case because it's not muscle there are lots of joints to fix. He knows we have to be patient.''


http://espnfc.com/en/preview/345704/preview.html?soccernet=true&cc=3888

i dont even know wether to support or oppose.i dont like the coach yet i like the team.losing might lead to his sack which i would love.any which way,i go watch.

The FA is very wicked. E be like say dem wan kill chelsea kpata kpata this season. I hope they survive this one for their own good. But truthfully, i see chelsea been walloped by Sunderland. I just hope they don't go on relegation this season.

UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP
Chelsea
if you don"t like Chelsea go and huge transformer

Tchoi.. Anoda blast for Chelsea..

up chealsea

salolo: up chealsea

Yeah, UP they'll go up in flames.

chelsea will win this one.. 1-4

greall1: UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP UP
Chelsea
if you don"t like Chelsea go and huge transformer

i still dunno d problem with dis chelshit fans...Dey so fanatic to d extend dat dis guy is displaying stupidity publicly in spelling hug as huge....#Smh for u

freestuv: i still dunno d problem with dis chelshit fans...Dey so fanatic to d extend dat dis guy is displaying stupidity publicly in spelling hug as huge....#Smh for u

Give him a break afterall he's a chelsea fan. That's what they're known for. You're even lucky this is an anonymous forum else he would have broken your head with a chelsea bottle.

freestuv: i still dunno d problem with dis chelshit fans...Dey so fanatic to d extend dat dis guy is displaying stupidity publicly in spelling hug as huge....#Smh for u

what do you expect from a tout that works in a motor park?

afam4eva:
Give him a break afterall he's a chelsea fan. That's what they're nnot for. You're even lucky this is an anonymous forum else he would have broken your head with a chelsea bottle.

bros take it easy with grammar ehh choi

freestuv: i still dunno d problem with dis chelshit fans...Dey so fanatic to d extend dat dis guy is displaying stupidity publicly in spelling hug as huge....#Smh for u

.....LWKMD...U̶̲̥̅̊ dis guy,U̶̲̥̅̊ get mouth die.

IYA NGBALI: what do you expect from a tout that works in a motor park?

....guy chill,U̶̲̥̅̊ dey tk d yab 2 far joor...its just a lil mistake....dunno y sum people tk tins 2 far seff....for ur mind U̶̲̥̅̊ ® so funny oooo....mtchewwww

Chelsea fans r like women. Dy dont knw wat dy want. If dy win match, dy only make noise. If dy los match, dy short up dia rubish mouth. Dy dont aim @ carryn cup neither winning carling cup nor FA cup. Dy only bbbrrrraaaggggg

Wishin al d blues fanz (gud or bad)luck.lol

good luck sunderland

[color=#990000][/color]Chelsea is an alcoholic drink,Man U is a football club dats d difference.Anyway una go just manage win 2day sha

BLUES †̥ win ds one.Up chepe

Red-Light:
bros take it easy with grammar ehh choi

Haters gonna hate

freestuv: i still dunno d problem with dis chelshit fans...Dey so fanatic to d extend dat dis guy is displaying stupidity publicly in spelling hug as huge....#Smh for u

Extent and not extend.
Pot calling Kettle BLACK.
In any case, I think he ommited hug but meant hug huge (very large) tansformer.
Up Chelsea nkem.

afam4eva:
Give him a break afterall he's a chelsea fan. That's what they're known for. You're even lucky this is an anonymous forum else he would have broken your head with a chelsea bottle.

afam4eva: The FA is very wicked. E be like say dem wan kill chelsea kpata kpata this season. I hope they survive this one for their own good. But truthfully, i see chelsea been walloped by Sunderland. I just hope they don't go on relegation this season.

u get sense at al Abi u de reason from ur anus?? Chelsea go relegation. . . May God sav ur brain from mor damages, AMEN

if chelsea doesnt win this....well let me jus keep quiet.

freestuv: i still dunno d problem with dis chelshit fans...Dey so fanatic to d extend dat dis guy is displaying stupidity publicly in spelling hug as huge....#Smh for u

Extent and not extend

Now the hunter has become the hunted

Registering

Game On

game on

Has Sunderland scored yet

Hazard why now

Sky isn't showing the game...