Pick of the stats: Sunderland v Portsmouth

Portsmouth will look to steer clear of the relegation zone as they make the trip to the Stadium of Light on Sunday (15:00 GMT).

Pompey began the calendar year with an emphatic 4-0 win over Swansea that saw them escape the bottom three however this weekend's task is a tough prospect.

Sunderland also took a big victory over their promotion rivals Sheffield United on New Years Day to come within two points of an automatic promotion spot and five points shy of league leaders Leeds United.

The Black Cats eased into a 3-1 victory in the reverse fixture back in August though they are only one of two sides in the top five to take all three points over the visitors this season (D3).

• Sunderland have won three of their last four league meetings with Portsmouth (L1) and could complete a league double over Pompey for the first time since the 1997-98 campaign.

• Portsmouth have only won one of their last six away games against Sunderland (D2 L3 - including the playoffs), winning 3-1 in October 2020 in League One.

• Sunderland will begin a calendar year with back-to-back home league games for the first time since 2017, when they drew 2-2 with Liverpool and lost 3-1 to Stoke at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League.

• Portsmouth have lost each of their last three away league games, last losing four on the bounce on the road in November 2014 in League Two.

• The away side has won three of the last seven league meetings in the Football League between a team from Tyne and Wear and a side from Hampshire (L4), as many as across the 17 fixtures prior (D4 L10).