This is a second leg game in the middle of the sides, this season; the first, hosted by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, on November 14, 2011, ended 3-0 in the visitors' favour. This was Chelsea's successive loss after being beaten at Anfield by Liverpool the former wwek.

Onuoha gave his side the lead on the break, against a jaded Chelsea. The goal that was the first against Chelsea in 914 minutes of play at Stamford Bridge underscored Chelsea's decline after prominent the table in the preliminary third of the league.

Chelsea missed Terry and Alex owing to injury. Their woes were compounded by the absence of Essien and Lampard in midfield, with Ramires unable to fill their boots adequately.

When Sunderland's 18 million pound summer signing Asamoah Gyan doubled the lead 7 minutes after the interval, the death knell began to sound out as Chelsea looked increasingly disinterested; in contrast, Sunderland dazzled with sharp passing and movement.

The supervene was an indication of Chelsea's weak underbelly - lack of enough bench support, and served to exorcise Sunderland's own ghosts, supervene to a 5-1 thrashing at home the former week at the hands of their Geordie neighbours from Newcastle.

Head to head, in the last 19 league games in the middle of the sides, Chelsea have established a 13-5 lead over Sunderland with one game drawn.

Of their last 10 games this league season, Sunderland have won 5, while losing 3 and drawing the remaining 2. Chelsea have won 3 of their last 10 games, while losing 3 and drawing 4.

Sunderland have won 6 of 12 games hosted by them this season, while drawing 5 and losing just the one;  Chelsea's away narrative has been less impressive with the champions winning just 4 of 12 games on the road, while drawing 3 and losing the remaining 5.

Both teams are advent off wins in their last games in match week 24. Sunderland beat Blackpool 2-1 away at Bloomfield Road, while Chelsea thrashed Bolton 4-0 away at the Reebok Stadium.

On current form, this could be a tight encounter, with the slightest edge to Sunderland on inventory of playing before home fans.

Sunderland had the following men in their beginning eleven against Blackpool: Gordon, Onuoha, Ferdinand, Bramble, Bardsley, Elmohamady, Henderson, Malbranque, Richardson, Zenden and Gyan. Colback and Riveros featured as substitutes.

Chelsea's beginning eleven against Bolton comprised Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Essien, Ramires, Mikel, Anelka, Drogba and Malouda.

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