PHIL BARDSLEY has come in to the Sunderland starting line-up as a direct replacement for the suspended Craig Gardner to face Southampton this afternoon.
A victory for the Black Cats would assure them of a place in the top-flight next season and Gardner's absence – for his red card against Stoke on Monday – is the only change.
That means Adam Johnson is the most likely candidate to fill in behind lone striker Danny Graham, while Jack Colback or Seb Larsson will be on the wing.
SUNDERLAND (4-4-1-1): Mignolet; Bardsley, O'Shea, Cuellar, Rose; McClean, Larsson, N'Diaye, Colback; Johnson; Graham. Subs: Westwood (gk), Wickham, Kilgallon, Vaughan, Mangane, Marrs, Mandron.
SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-3-1): Boruc; Clyne, Fonte, Hooiveld, Shaw; Cork, S Davis; Schneiderlin, Rodriguez, Lallana; Lambert. Subs: K Davis, Yoshida, Forren, Ward-Prowse, Mayuka, De Ridder, Puncheon.
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