Match Preview: Blackburn Rovers

Sunderland are set to name an unchanged side for the third game in succession on Boxing Day when Blackburn Rovers visit the Stadium of Light. And if Ricky Sbragia uses the same 11 players that started last weekend's 4-1 win at Hull, it will be the first time for nearly three years that the starting XI has been the same for three games in a row.

Sunderland are looking for the third win in a row, and after scoring 8 goals in their last 2 games, arefull of confidence.

Sbragia is reluctant to change a winning formula after a god run of form. Winsover West Brom and Hull have lifted Sunderland out of the Barclays Premier League's bottom three.

"We're looking for continuity, we don't want to change the team and we'll look to keep it the same on Boxing Day," said Sbragia.

"The good news is that we have no new injuries or knocks and there is a good chance it will be unchanged."

Sunderland will face a trip to Everton just two days after taking on Rovers, now managed by Sam Allardyce who was favourite to replace Roy Keane here on wearside until he was snapped up by Blackburn, on December 26.

"Two games in three days is ludicrous but it's the same for everyone," said Sbragia.

"We might have to change things around for Everton but the focus is on Blackburn at the moment, that's the big one because it's the next one."

Sbragia watched Daryl Murphy, David Healy and Grant Leadbitter play well in Sunderland's 8-0 reserves win over Carlisle on Monday.

"It was good to get the likes of Daryl, David Healy and Grant involved for the Reserves because we might need them over the weekend.

"They had a good workout, we got them involved purely because they needed minutes on the pitch playing football. We need everyone fit and ready to go at this time of the season when games come thick and fast.

"There will be a time during the next two games when we are going to use all the squad and we need them sharp."

Sunderland are looking to record a third successive win. "We mustn't waste the good work we have done," said Sbragia.

Blackburn know what to expect when they come to the Stadium of Light.

Rovers' David Dunn believes both sides will be full of confidence going into the Boxing Day crunch clash.

"Without a doubt, it is never an easy place to go," he said. "Their fans are very good, they are very passionate, it is around Christmas so they'll be turning out in their thousands and they've had some fantastic results of late.

"They'll be full of confidence. I'm sure they'll be very bright, but our job is to go up there, keep a clean sheet and hopefully play our game and create them problems.

"I'm sure both teams will be looking to win the game - two teams that aren't in the position that the fans and the clubs want to be in.

"We've just had a good result, a 3-0 win against Stoke, and they've just come off the back of a 4-0 and a 4-1, so both teams will feel that they have a good chance."

Sunderland will be without Craig Gordon (ankle) and George McCartney for this game.

Personally I fancy our chances, let's show Big Sam what he's missed out on.

Ha'way The Lads!