Sunderland vs Luton prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-03-17 15:00.
As apologies to the Sunderland faithful go, a 1-0 success more than 250 miles away at promotion-chasing Norwich was a solid way to make amends for their heaviest second-tier home loss this century in the game prior (1-5 vs Stoke). However, after losing 2-1 to promotion-chasing Sheffield United in midweek, the Black Cats enter the weekend eight points adrift of the play-offs.
That defeat further underlined Sunderlandâs all-or-nothing attitude in home league outings since returning to action in early December (W4, D1, L4). As best showcased on Wednesday, itâs never an approach without risks against better sides, but with three of those wins coming against Luton Townâs current fellow top-six dwellers, Sunderland should not be underestimated.
Luton will likely be difficult and tightly-knit visitors though, as a midweek success over Bristol City marked a fourth 1-0 victory in five outings. Automatic promotion remains an outside possibility, while a potential piece of club history here appears more realistic, with the Bedfordshire side aiming for a maiden hat-trick of Championship away wins âto-nilâ to be recorded inside the same season.
The belief that Luton will give their hosts a stern test is reinforced further still when looking back at a return of six match openers across their preceding seven-game unbeaten Championship away run (W5, D2). That said, they dropped points despite drawing first blood in the reverse clash, part of a run of just one win in 12 H2Hs dating back to April 1995 (D4, L7).
Players to watch: Ădouard Michut got his maiden senior Sunderland goal in midweek, though a yellow card to go with it means he now has three cautions in just 16 Championship appearances. However, there is greater expectation of the reverse H2Hâs opening scorer Carlton Morris taking centre-stage, especially with Lutonâs last two away wins each seeing their runaway top-scorer net the sole goal inside the first ten minutes of the second half.
Hot streak: None of Lutonâs last 14 away league games have seen any half produce 3+ total goals.