Black Cats aiming to build on good form

Sunderland face MK Dons at Stadium MK today with manager Phil Parkinson aiming to extend the club’s unbeaten run,

Parkinson’s side go into the game in fine form, unbeaten in their last six games - three of which have been wins.

Their most recent game saw a splendid 4-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers with goals from Charlie Wyke, Denver Hume and Chris Maguire (2).

The result put Sunderland into the play-off places, but they dropped to seventh after Burton Albion beat MK Dons 1-0 on Tuesday night.

Sunderland do have a game in hand on both Oxford United and Burton who sit in fifth and sixth - with the Wearsiders just one point outside the play-offs.

And Parkinson has said that his side have “a platform to push on” following their recent results.

“We said after the Christmas period that the aim was to get back in amongst it,” he said.

“We have achieved that and now we have given ourselves a platform to push on between now and the end of the season.

“If we can reproduce the performance level of late then we will have a great chance of coming back with a positive result.”

Opponents MK Dons, who sit 19th in League One - just three points above the drop zone – have picked up just two wins in their last five league games and have won once since the turn of the year against Bristol Rovers.

Manager Russell Martin has reverted to a 4-4-2 diamond formation in four of his last five games, but played a 4-3-3 formation in his last game.

Sunderland have won every encounter between the two sides, with the last one in September being a 2-1 win at the Stadium of Light with goals from Max Power and Luke O’Nien.

Parkinson looks set to retain his 3-4-3 formation which he has played in each of their last five games and Kyle Lafferty could make his debut as it was confirmed he will travel down to Buckinghamshire.

Tom Flanagan is back in contention after coming off at half time in last week’s win over Wycombe Wanderers.