Sunderland vs West Brom prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-12-08 12:30.
Sunderland needed a late equaliser to draw 1-1 against Millwall last weekend, but that proved to be the final nail in the coffin for head coach Tony Mowbray, with his 15-month spell in charge of the club ending on Monday. The ninth-placed Black Cats have lost five of their last nine Championship games (W2, D2), two more defeats than they suffered in their first ten league matches of the campaign. Yet, with only three points separating them from the play-off places, the dream of ending their seven-season Premier League exile is still well and truly alive.
The Stadium of Light hasn’t witnessed a draw this term, but the home fans will hope their team can continue to improve on their recent eight-game run at the venue (W5, L3) with another win. Such a result would be momentous and, after a 2-1 triumph away over upcoming opponents West Bromwich Albion in April, the hosts could post consecutive H2H victories for the first time since December 2008.
It would be naïve to think that the Baggies will fold easily though following five wins in seven league encounters (L2), with both losses coming against current top-four sides, one of which was a gut-wrenching late 2-1 defeat to Leicester City last Saturday. Carlos Corberán’s men are guaranteed to still be in the top six at the end of this round of fixtures irrespective of the result, but the absence of several key players through injury threatens to derail their campaign.
Having beaten Sunderland on their last visit there, West Brom could post consecutive away H2H victories for the first time since April 2004, but only three wins in their last ten competitive trips (D3, L4) this season doesn’t inspire huge confidence that they will add to that tally. Be prepared for early excitement however, as four of their last six Championship matches on their travels have seen the opener arrive in the first five minutes.
Key battle: Jack Clarke got Sunderland’s equaliser last weekend, making it the fifth time in his last eight Championship scoring appearances that he has netted the second goal of the game. On the two occasions West Brom goalkeeper Alex Palmer has faced Sunderland in the Championship, the final score has been 2-1 (W1, L1).
Hot stat: Sunderland are the only Championship outfit yet to drop points after taking the lead in 2023/24 (W5).