Aston Villa v Sunderland

TEAM NEWS

Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood says "a couple of players" have been affected by a sickness bug but he is hopeful they will be fit.

Adama Traore could be involved despite not training since he suffered an ankle injury against Notts County on Tuesday.

Sunderland loan signing Ola Toivonen is available but a lack of training time means he is likely to be on the bench.

Jeremain Lens and Billy Jones missed the midweek League Cup win over Exeter because of injury but may be fit.

MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES

Guy Mowbray: "Villa's 4-0 win at Sunderland in the sides' last meeting was Gus Poyet's last game as the Black Cats' boss, and a similar result might have Dick Advocaat seriously reconsidering his own future with the club.

"Whatever the outcome, it won't change the fact that he could do with adding to Friday's signing of Ola Toivonen with more new faces before Tuesday's transfer deadline.

"Tim Sherwood, meanwhile, seems to have completed his 'incoming' business successfully.

"The next step for ever-evolving Villa is to improve home form that's brought them just four wins from the last 18 league games at Villa Park."

Twitter: @Guymowbray

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood: "It's an important game but I'm not sure it's a landmark. The team got 10 points from four games last season and ended up struggling.

"It's not how you start, it's how you finish – and how you perform in the middle would help.

"We want to take the game to Sunderland. They'll sit deep and look to bring us on and we'll certainly be coming on to them."

Sunderland head coach Dick Advocaat: "We had a big past here and I know a little bit about the salary of players – average players, lower than average players – and that's crazy.

"People who bought those kind of players for those transfer fees and gave them those salaries didn't care about the club.

"And then I can understand our owner when he thinks, 'I spent a fortune and now where are they playing, or not playing?' Supporters have to understand that before you can have a new start, you have to get rid."

LAWRO’S PREDICTION

The Black Cats are all over the place at the moment, and the three goals they conceded against Exeter in the League Cup were an example of that.

Villa had their own scare against lower division opposition in midweek and have been very up and down but, even in the games they have lost, they have been competitive and I am backing them to win this one.

Lawro's full predictions v Olympic gold medallist Darren Campbell

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Aston Villa are on an eight-match unbeaten streak in this fixture (W4, D4).
• Sunderland's last win in this fixture came at Villa Park in January 2011, when Phil Bardsley scored the only goal.
• The Black Cats have scored just one goal in their last seven Premier League games against Villa, failing to find the net in the four most recent encounters.

Aston Villa

• Villa registered just five Premier League wins at home last season – only Sunderland and relegated Burnley fared worse.
• They have only won 17 of their 71 league games at Villa Park since December 2011, losing 35 times and averaging less than one point per match during that period (W17, D19, L35, Pts 70).
• Tim Sherwood's side could fail to score in their first two home matches of a top-flight campaign for the first time since 1946.
• Gabby Agbonlahor has scored five goals in his last five Premier League appearances against Sunderland.

Sunderland

• The Black Cats have gone six league matches without a win (D3, L3). They had won three of their first six games under Dick Advocaat.
• They have failed to win any of their opening four matches in each of the last four Premier League seasons.
• Sunderland's only win in their last 12 Premier League away matches came against Everton in May (W1, D5, L6).
• All four of Sunderland's league goals this season have come after half time.