Sunderland v West Ham
Stadium of Light, Saturday Oct 31, 3pm

Last meeting: West Ham 2-0 Sunderland (04-04-09). It was a game of firsts at the Boleyn Ground last season. Winger Junior Stanislas and defender James Tomkins got their first goals for the Hammers either side of half-time to secure the points.

The opposition: The Black Cats lie in eighth, having made a strong start to the season. They are a formidable force at the Stadium of Light, with four wins and a loss so far. A recent run of three wins and a draw was spoiled by a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Premier League newcomers Birmingham City last week.

Danger men: Darren Bent can't stop scoring for Steve Bruce's men. The former Tottenham striker has eight goals to his name already, the most recent of which was the infamous 'beach ball' strike against Liverpool two weeks ago. His strike partner Kenwyne Jones will pose a serious aerial threat on Saturday.

Did you know? Appearances of black cats during Sunderland's history has earned them their modern-day nickname. The place of the black cat was sealed in the club's folklore when 12-year-old fan Billy Morris kept a black kitten in his pocket throughout the 1937 FA Cup final at Wembley. It is believed it gave the club luck, as the team came back from 1-0 down to win 3-1 that day.

Prediction: Sunderland 1 West Ham 1.

Betting tip: After the comeback against Arsenal, why not plump for another? Paddy Power are offering odds of 40-1 on the Hammers winning after being behind at the break.