Sunderland and Aston Villa have only scored 13 goals between them in 17 matches all season, so when the two lock horns at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, goals are expected to be few and far between.
Sunderland lie in 14th place, having picked up a disappointing nine points from eight games, while Villa, under new manager Paul Lambert, have fared worse with just six points from nine matches, and precariously lie one place above the relegation zone.
While it is too early to panic, Lambert will be keen to start picking up some wins and look to stamp his authority on the Villa side.
Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill, who left Villa in 2010 after four years with the club, however, has no doubts about the fact that Lambert will be successful, despite a far from convincing start.
"I know the manager," the former Villa manager said. "He did brilliantly at Norwich City. I had him as a player at Celtic. He was always ambitious. He was always striving to do better. He had the appetite.
"I am not surprised he has done well. He went to Norwich and galvanised that football club. He's now moved on to a really big club both in history and tradition. It takes a few weeks to establish yourself. It takes a few weeks to find out the strength of the reserve team, never mind anything else!
"All of those things are things Paul is learning at the moment. I came into Sunderland during the season and I always feel that's a difficult time. You pick it up immediately or it can take a bit of time. Thankfully we won our first match against Blackburn Rovers.
"Time is pressing in football and clubs are not affording people these days. Paul went into their preseason and the first thing he has to do is find out the strengths and weaknesses of the team.
"Again that can be hard, learning a lot of things in pre-season. You're never exactly sure because pre-season can be misleading. Then he wants to add a few other players that he feels are good enough to go. All of these things take time but I have no doubt that he will be able to turn that around."
Sunderland have drawn six out of their eight games this year, and O'Neill admitted it's been a few too many for his liking. "So far in the league we have drawn a lot of games and I accept that," he said. "We haven't scored the number of goals I was hoping we would have done at this stage, and I also accept that.
"But the only game we have lost in the league is to the team who won it last season and are now playing Champions League football.
"I didn't get overly excited last year by some of the results we got and I certainly wouldn't be getting too down now. It's a long, long season and I know that through my experiences."
Sunderland have no major injury worries, and the manager is expected to bring back some of his first-team regulars after resting them for the League Cup in midweek.
Villa, however, will have Karim El Ahmadi suspended after picking up his fifth booking against Swindon Town in the League Cup, but Joe Bennett returns from suspension. Defender Chris Herd is a doubt after picking up a knock in midweek.
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Expected lineups: Sunderland: Mignolet, Gardner, O'Shea, Cuellar, Rose, Cattermole, Colback, Larsson, Johnson, McClean, Fletcher.
Aston Villa: Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar, Lichaj, Bennett, Bannan, Holman, Albrighton, Delph, Agbonlahor, Benteke.
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