Last time out…
Sunderland narrowly lost after a sterling effort away at Bramall Lane last game out.
There was everything in the game – two red cards in the first half, a saved penalty, and another late goal which gave the hosts all three points when we surely deserved a share of the spoils, potentially more.
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Today in an early kick off we take on Stoke City. After a really challenging stretch of games with a lot of away trips to strong sides, Regis and the lads will be very keen to get the PPG back up in the right direction
‘The Champion’ Martin Wanless predicts…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Stoke 0
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Isidor
We need to get back to winning ways as soon as possible and this one is a great opportunity to do so.
While they haven’t racked up many wins recently Stoke have been pretty hard to beat recently though – only Burnley and Sheffield United have took maximum points off them since the end of September, so this will be a bit of a grind. I’m hoping for a win – but the smart money is on a draw…
Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images
Malc Dugdale predicts…
Score prediction: Sunderland 3 Stoke 1
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Isidor
There comes a time when you have to just knuckle down and get a win and I think today is that.
Stoke are likely to come and try to stop us playing, but we simply have to get back on the points scoring wagon if we are serious about contending for the top two. It’s too early to worry about dropping out of the play off place contention as yet, but that is easily done with some of the other sides really rallying below us.
Our favourite volley ball will get the first, and while Stoke may get one back I think we will prevail.
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Jack Howe-Gingell predicts…
Score prediction: Sunderland 3 Stoke 0
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Jobe
After a difficult few games, I just have a feeling everything will fall the right way and a comfortable win is the on the cards.
The return of Dennis Cirkin is a massive boost. He oozes quality and although I think everyone is in agreement in terms of his ability, I think some overlook how vital he is to our team.
Another who I’m excited to see is Tommy Watson. He had his best game for us so far against possibly the sternest opposition in Sheff United, and I hope he can bring that confidence into this one where he should see even more joy.
I don’t think Regis Le Bris will change too much, but I would like to see Roberts rotated out, possibly for Mayenda. He is going through a typically Roberts spell, and I thought Mayenda impressed out wide away to Millwall.
We deserved to get at least a draw against Sheff United and got nothing, so we have to make sure this time and I back the lads to do it resoundingly.
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Will Jones predicts…
Score prediction: Sunderland 3 Stoke 1
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Jobe
We played very well last week and taking no points was very unfortunate.
We need to get the ball rolling and kick off another run, this is the perfect time.
We have a lot of players returning or close to returning and I feel a storm brewing on wearside, and when it clicks again, it’s going to be unstoppable.
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Matty Foster predicts…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Stoke 1
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Isidor
Whilst we lost against Sheffield United, I was encouraged by the performance and thought we were unlucky not to come away with something.
Next is the first instalment of an exciting trilogy, against erm, Stoke. Doesn’t particularly whet the appetite, does it?
Since sacking Schumacher in September, they’ve managed just one more victory than they did in their first four, with three victories out of thirteen under Pelach.
For ourselves, it’s six games without a win, but our home form remains intact.
Losing Mepham to suspension is a big blow for a player who has been nothing short of outstanding since arriving.
Nevertheless, I think this fixture is a perfect opportunity to put a winless November behind us and start the festive season with a gift of three points!
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Bomber Davies predicts…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Stoke 0
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Isidor
The Sheffield United game might have ended our unbeaten win, but it was the first game in a while where we absolutely didn’t get what we objectively deserved, and with that I have renewed confidence that we will be able to build on that and pull out 3-points in the “Lynden Gooch Derby”.
Goochy is back available for Stoke after a not insignificant injury layoff, and whilst I hope he gets back out onto the Stadium of Light pitch to get the reception he will always deserve coming back home, I equally hope its an unhappy return for him. It would be typical Sunderland however for Gooch to come off the bench for Stoke for 15 minutes, only to score an injury time winner.
Taking that narrative out of the equation, Stoke’s biggest struggle this season has scoring away from home (4 in 8) but have equally aren’t conceding too many either. So with that, it’s a clean sheet and a close-but-comfortable 2-0 victory.
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Gary Winter predicts…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Stoke 1
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Isidor
In what was potentially an acid test of our automatic promotion credentials, whilst gutting, I was left with a peculiar feeling of optimism following the match against Sheffield Utd. We played well and were very unfortunate. It was great to see us play with positivity against the league’s top team at their own ground. The 10 game unbeaten run is over but, in all fairness, it was something I was not that attached to given it included no wins in five in the month of November. Now its imperative we start picking up wins again before we start sliding out of contention.
Stoke always tend to provide difficult opposition and although its a game I expect to win, its been a while for us. Its not simple to overcome that winless feeling. Hopefully we can take confidence from the last game and shake off the deflation. In front of our own fans we have a chance to perform and get our season back on the right track. Its been a month without a goal for Isidor and he’ll be desperate to lift the fans heading towards the festive period, so I’m backing him to get us off the mark in a tight affair.
Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images
Brett Lyons-Davis predicts…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Stoke 0
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Rigg
Our last win on the 26th October seems a life time ago.
Since then Stoke have only lost to the two in the top two, having beaten Blackburn & Derby and drawing with QPR and Blackburn.
So had this been away I would have gone for the draw but at home I fancy us for the three points in a close game with Chris Rigg getting the winner.
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Last game predictions
Our writers had mixed feelings about the last game, and understandably so with our form and where we went for the Friday night top of the league head to head.
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Brett and Matty called the loss and got it right, though for most of the game we looked like winning or getting a point. Only the no scorer saddo’s got anything for the first to notch.
Latest standings
Malc stays top, and there are 2 points between 2nd and 7th. Tighter than a gnats chuff.
Matty is still a bit shit, hopefully Stoke are the same.
Photo by Martin Swinney/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images
How the points are awarded
Just a quick reminder of how we allocate points to our match-by-match predictions:
- Correct score = Three points
- Correct outcome (but not correct score) = One point
- Correct first Sunderland goalscorer = One point (no goal scorer is a valid call)
- Possible deductions for being lazy and not submitting on time = Yellow Card warning, then a two point deduction.
