[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

In case the novelty of the first winter World Cup had caused it to slip everyone's mind... 'tis the season. It may have been on hiatus for a month, but the domestic campaign remains unfinished business, and for those of us bored with all the Bud Zero and goalies named Bono, its resumption is the finest Christmas present that oil-money can't buy.

And it's not the only thing we've waited a long time for, as Monday evening takes us to Wearside for the first time in over six years. Sunderland's spell in the wilderness has ended, and as if to illustrate the closeness of the division they've freshly returned to, two wins on the trot have lifted them (for the time being, at least) out of the dogfight and onto the fringe of the play-off chase. The latter of those victories was against Millwall last weekend, meaning the Black Cats have a head start in terms of getting back into the competitive swing, but with only one win over Albion in fifteen attempts since Christmas 2008, recent history isn't entirely on their side. Of course, the Stadium of Light hasn't always been kind to Albion, and the 4-2 win delivered by Steve Clarke in autumn 2012 remains our last triumph there. But Sunderland haven't won at home on a Monday night in their last nine attempts, and indeed, their most recent success was way back in August 2006 against some pack of no-hopers with Pascal Zuberbuhler in goal, John Hartson up front and Bryan Robson in the dugout. No ill omens there, then.

The three consecutive wins that dragged us out of the drop zone in time for the break were built on clean sheets, and more of the same is needed from Corbz and the boys to keep up the good work. A no-score draw wouldn't exactly warm the cockles on an icy December night, but it would be getting a job done in a tricky encounter.