'We'll do it' - Sunderland warning for Leeds United as Elland Road under the lights awaits
The Black Cats will look to end Leeds United's five-game night-time winning run in front of their own fans.
Sunderland forward Eliezer Mayenda has warned Leeds United his side will be out for all three points when they arrive at Elland Road this evening.
So far this season, five Premier League teams have come to West Yorkshire for a night-time kick-off and not a single point has been taken back home. Everton, West Ham, Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Chelsea have all fallen victim to an atmosphere which seems to bring the best out of Daniel Farke’s side.
Elland Road under the lights will be fresh in the Sunderland memory too, with Regis Le Bris’ side twice watching Pascal Struijk rise highest to turn their top-of-the-Championship clash on its head just over a year ago. The Black Cats are a different side this year, however, sitting three places and six points above their midweek hosts.
Sunderland have only won two Premier League games this calendar year but ended a three-game losing streak with a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth last weekend. And fresh off scoring his first goal since the opening weekend, Mayenda believes his side will be ready to handle the Elland Road pressure.
“Difficult game [against Bournemouth], difficult stadium, but we got one point today, and I think it’s not enough,” Mayenda told the Sunderland Echo. “We are not happy because we wanted to get three points here, but we got one point, and we have to look forward now to the game on Tuesday. But it’s a good point here.
“Yeah, we’re going to prepare for the game tomorrow and on Monday. I think it will be a different game, a different game away again. Good atmosphere at Leeds, we know. Then we’ll try to get three points again. One point is not enough, so we play every game to get three points.
“And at Leeds, against Leeds, we try to get a good game, to play a good game with the same mentality. And if we can, if we could do more, we’ll do it.”
Sunderland will arrive at Elland Road this evening without a handful of key players. First-team regulars Brian Brobbey, Nordi Mukiele and Reinildo Mandava are all expected to sit out through injury, as are fringe players Dennis Cirkin, Romaine Mundle and Jocelin Ta Bi.
Leeds should have Joe Rodon available after further scans showed his hamstring problem was nothing serious, while there is hope James Justin has recovered from a nasty cut on his ankle. Noah Okafor remains out with a hamstring injury.