LONDON (Sporting Alert) — New Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio has decided to leave January signing Danny Graham on the bench and start Connor Wickham in today’s Barclays Premier League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are sitting fifth in the Premier League standings, while Sunderland are 17th and falling quickly.
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Also getting a starting place today is Matt Kilgallon, who comes into the backline.
Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez, in the meantime, has left captain John Terry and midfield star Frank Lampard on the substitutes’ bench, but striker Demba Ba returns to starting XI are missing the midweek Europa League game because he was ineligible.
Ba replaces Fernando Torres, who scored twice in Europa League. Also starting are Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, Ramires and Oscar in a very attacking Chelsea team.
Chelsea: Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, David Luiz, Bertrand; Ramires, Mikel; Oscar, Mata, Hazard; Ba. Subs: Turnbull, Ferreira, Terry, Lampard, Marin, Benayoun, Torres.
Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, Rose, O’Shea, Kilgallon, N’Diaye, Gardner, Larsson, Johnson, Sessegnon, Wickham. Subs: Westwood, Graham, Colback, McClean, Mangane, Mandron, Laidler.
