Getting dragged into a relegation scrap after a winless streak of seven matches and up against a Manchester United team 15 points ahead at the top of the Premier League, it doesn't look good for Sunderland.

Bookies, not surprisingly, make them Stan James' 5/1 outsiders to pick up a crucial victory.

The champions-elect are BetVictor's 7/10 favourites, Paddy Power post 3/1 against a fourth stalemate in five at the Stadium of Light, where it's 15/2 (Ladbrokes) to finish 1-1 and 9/2 with bet365 to be level at the end of each half.

So are there any crumbs of comfort for Black Cats supporters?

Encouragingly yes; the visitors effectively have the title wrapped up and could send a weakened line-up with Monday's FA Cup quarter clash at Chelsea in mind. Subsequently Coral's 7/2 marked against Sunderland in the 'Draw No Bet' market might appeal to some and for the more optimistic, the Black Cats are 5/2 via BetVictor to shade it by one.

Stan James offer a chunky 22/1 about a 2-1 triumph for O'Neill's charges, who are 12/1 courtesy of BetVictor to prevail after a level first period and Danny Graham is 9/1 (bet365) to endear himself to the Black Cats faithful in Steven Fletcher's absence by notching first.

Newcastle are one of four Premier League teams to have only managed one away win all season and indeed only two of the Magpies top-flight counterparts have suffered more defeats on the road so it's easy to see why Alan Pardew's men are Stan James' 10/1 underdogs, based on those statistics, as they visit Manchester City.

City, Betfred's 3/10 favourites, were shocking at Everton last time out and have as good as relinquished the title to Manchester United meaning they might not exactly be firing on all cylinders tomorrow.

Ladbrokes' 9/2 for the contest to prove inconclusive could lure a few punters then and BetVictor chalk the game up at 11/1 to finish one-each.

United can also be backed at 6/1 in bet365's 'Draw No Bet' market or alternatively Newcastle kick off a goal to the good in the handicaps, where they're 13/5 courtesy of BetVictor, although as Pardew's charges have won four of their last seven in all competitions, some fans might be more positive.

Stan James' offer a massive 33/1 about a 2-1 Newcastle triumph, Skybet make the Magpies 10/1 to sneak it by one and Papiss Cisse is overpriced at 11/1 in William Hill's first scorer betting.

Middlesbrough head to Wolves as they look to give their fading play-off hopes a much-needed shot in the arm but the hosts are slender favourites at 13/8 with bet365.

Tony Mowbray's troops are a 2/1 shot at Coral to win and it's 12/5 via BetVictor to end in stalemate at Molineux, where Skybet post 10/1 against a goalless affair.

For travelling supporters, believing Boro should have too much for a team in the bottom three, Paddy Power price the visitors at 10/3 to emerge triumphant by a solitary goal and it's 9/1 with BetVictor for Mowbray's men to register a 1-0 success.

Stan James offer an equally attractive 19/5 about Boro leading when the referee brings each half to a close and it's 8/1 (Ladbrokes) for Scott McDonald to break the deadlock.

Odds supplied by www.betrescue.com

Offer of the week: Open an account with William Hill via betrescue.com and claim £25 in free bets. See betrescue.com/freebets for details.