Sunderland vs Wolves: Inside track on the Wearsiders

We spoke with Rich Mennear, reporter for the Sunderland Echo, to get a proper look at the Wearsiders.

Wolves were held to a draw by Sunderland back in December, do you think the Black Cats will try and play the same style as they did in that draw?

I doubt caretaker boss Robbie Stockdale will want to open up too much against free-flowing Wolves but I think he'll stick with the flat-back four seen recently under Coleman.

Sunderland have been playing well since Easter, they have been unable to hold on to several leads though and as a result chucked away nine points to see them relegated.

I suspect Sunderland will line up in a 4-1-4-1 formation.

Sunderland is obviously a club in a lot of turmoil having suffered double relegation and recently getting rid of Chris Coleman amongst an ownership change, what's gone wrong to trigger this chaos?

Where do you start?! Ultimately the buck and responsibility lies with owner Ellis Short.

In his defence Short pumped millions into Sunderland but a succession of bad decisions over the years by him and the people he employed - chief executives, directors of football, various managers, players etc - has seen the club suffer the humiliation of back-to-back relegations.

Too many managers, meaning squad overhauls regularly haven't helped and added to the debt, millions has been spent on players yet Sunderland have only made a profit on a handful of them when moving them on, millions thrown away as a result.

Last summer Short agreed to keep funding the losses and keep the club going but there was next to little investment in the squad last season. The recruitment they did was poor leaving an imbalanced squad shy of goalscorers.

A catalogue of errors over a number of seasons has led to this point.

With Coleman gone and no permanent replacement sourced right now, how are Sunderland finishing the season, are there any shoots of growth?

Results and performances have improved since Easter but it counts for nothing now.

A huge summer overhaul will take place with the £35million wage bill having to be slashed further.

Seven loan players will go back, there are also four players out of contract. Big changes ahead on and off the field.

Wolves fans know all about double relegation, having suffered that fate twice before, but having seen them bounce back and fight their way into the top flight - do you think Sunderland could eventually do the same?

Yes. Short has wiped the club's debt as part of the pending takeover, which is subject to league approval, to leave the club in a far healthier place under new owners.

The monthly running costs are still huge though and the wage bill will be slashed again.

Sunderland have the benefit of parachute payments for the next two seasons so that will give them an advantage.

Concentrate on rebuilding and getting promoted from League One and go from there.

How do you expect Sunderland to face up against the title winners? Do you think they'll try and frustrate Wolves?

As I say I don't think Stockdale will want Sunderland to go toe-to-toe with Wolves given Wolves' attacking flair and Sunderland's dreadful defence.

I suspect they will try and contain Wolves for as long as possible and hit them on the counter.

With nothing riding on the game though, it could yet be an open and entertaining one.

Do you expect to see numerous changes for the game with Wolves, being the final game of the season, will Sunderland look to end on a high or simply play the kids?

Sunderland have played a lot of younger players anyway; Honeyman, Gooch, Maja, Asoro, Robson etc.

There will be a bit of a buzz given the takeover developments so yes Sunderland will of course want to go out on a high in front of their fans but there is no escaping this season has been one to forget.

The home record, in particular, dreadful with just two wins all season at the Stadium of Light.

I don't think Stockdale will make to many changes from the team that lost to Fulham last week. Josh Maja to possibly start.

What do you make of Wolves' Premier League credentials, judging by what you've seen, where do you think they could finish in the top flight?

I don't think Wolves will have to make too many additions in the summer to be honest to be competitive next year.

They have been far and away the best team in the Championship this term.

They possess Premier League-standard players so half a dozen recruits should see them finish mid-table next year.

Exciting times ahead for Wolves and their fanbase.

Your match prediction?

Wolves to win 3-1.

You can follow Rich on Twitter by searching for @RichMennearJP.