Dion Dublin
Former Leicester and Aston Villa forward on Football Focus

Image source, Getty Images

“It’s a tall order, Sunderland have been poor, there has been a run of games where they have seen a bit of light that they may be able to drag themselves out of that bottom three.

“Get the ball into areas you hope Jermain Defoe is going to be. He is their only chance of getting out of the bottom three. He’ll score goals if he gets the chance."

Both teams packing the midfield so far. Manuel Lanzini looks a bit rusty early on after his lay-off through injury. But here's a nice diagonal ball from Cheikhou Kouyate although  Michail Antonio is flagged offside. 

Aaron Cresswell looks to burst forward from Angelo Ogbonna's searching ball, but the Hammers left-back's cross cannot find a team-mate. 

The players are yet to provide a spark as West Ham knock it around at the back to provide the defence with some early touches. Don't forget this fixture finished 2-2 at the Stadium of Light earlier in the season. 

James Collins is almost on it, as Dimitri Payet takes, but it comes to nothing but a nice bit of skill from the West Ham midfielder wins another, which is headed clear. It's a cold day in east London and the set-pieces need to warm up too. 

Dimitri Payet might have been winning the plaudits this season, but James Collins has been a rock at the back for the Hammers this season. Now the hosts have a corner. 

The second attempt is headed away too, but Wahbi Khazri regains it, bursts to the byline and delivers a low cross which James Collins boots away. Looks like the Sunderland winger is in the mood, but he will have to improve on those early deliveries. 

Whabi Khazri takes it, goes to the near post but West Ham clear. It's another. 

Scrappy in midfield to start with, Lee Cattermole gets forward and wins an early corner for Sunderland. 

Image source, Reuters

Off we go, Sunderland get us under way. 

Before we kick-off a reminder of the teams.

Image source, .

Image source, .

Dion Dublin
Former Leicester and Aston Villa forward on Football Focus

“People playing against Dimitri Payet have had to change their game. I played with Peter Ndlovu, David Ginola, and players like that you just have to give them the ball and let them do their thing."

Image source, Getty Images

"We are expecting a difficult game and we have to be direct as well as patient as they are well organised. We’re ready, our form is good and we’re confident," says West Ham boss Slaven Bilic of Saturday's opponents. 

"Lanzini is back and fit and he’s one of our key players and we hope he will open up situations and make a difference."

The teams have emerged from the tunnel, are doing their pre-match handshakes and are ready for action. 

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How does it feel for Sam Allardyce to return to West Ham with Sunderland?

"I had a good time for four years here, especially with the backroom staff, but I’m back with Sunderland in a game that we desperately need to win," he told BT Sport.

"It will be a difficult task and we have to look after their front four, especially Dimitri Payet. Can we keep him quiet today? If we can, I think we’ll get a result.

"We’ve been away after a difficult Christmas and New Year. The new recruits have done well and players have lifted their form. The Manchester United result was excellent we need the same today.

"If we pick up a point here it will be a valuable one."

Ryan and dylan in Watford: Player of season has to be Tottenham's dele alli, amazing skill and english, will bring home the Euros for us.

Image source, Getty Images

We should also mention that Sunderland are set to turn Upton Park green after revealing plans to hand every travelling fan a free away shirt. 

"The Black Cats have sold out 12 of their 14 away Premier League trips so far this season, with 28,000 loyal Sunderland fans covering in excess of 7,000 miles supporting their team," says a statement on the Black Cats website., external

"To thank their fan for such tremendous backing, every Sunderland fan at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday will be given a 2015-16 away shirt courtesy of Sunderland." 

While West Ham spent last weekend in Blackburn, Sam Allardyce and his players were on a warm-weather break in Dubai fresh from a 2-1 win over Manchester United. 

So despite lurking in the bottom three, a win can lift them out of the relegation zone. New signings Wahbi Khazri and Lamine Kone played a telling part in the victory over Louis van Gaal's team and the Black Cats also drew 2-2 at Liverpool the week prior to that, so they will be confident. 

So given that we have discussing Dimitri Payet as a potential player of the season contender, we were wondering who else you might consider? 

Riyad Mahrez is in with a very good chance, what about Leicester team-mate Jamie Vardy or Arsenal's Mesut Ozil? Let us know your early contenders and why. 

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As for the reception Sam Allardyce is hoping for, he's been welcomed with warm handshakes and kisses by Hammers staff. On the fans, he says: "There's always a small minority that shows some disapproval. West Ham is no different from any other club.

"They make themselves heard more than others sometimes, but it's not a Sam Allardyce thing. It's a West Ham thing, so it's not really me because all the others have had the same amount of stick I had over the years anyway."