Sunderland vs QPR prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2024-03-15 15:00.
[p]Since beating Preston on New Year’s Day, 2024 has proved a nightmare for Sunderland so far, having managed just two wins since (D1, L9). The Black Cats find themselves in the midst of a six-game losing streak – their longest in the second-tier in over three decades – which has put pay to ambitions of back-to-back top-six finishes in the Championship.[/p]
[p]To make matters worse, a permanent managerial appointment to replace Michael Beale looks no nearer, while interim boss Mike Dodds is faced with an injury crisis ahead of the visit of QPR. Sunderland will therefore be glad to be at home where they’ve accumulated 30 of their 47 points this term, yet they’ve failed to win any of the last four H2Hs at the Stadium of Light (D3, L1).[/p]
[p]That’s a record the visitors will be desperate to extend as they remain entrenched in an incredibly congested scrap for survival. The R’s begin the round just a point clear of the bottom-three after a defeat to Middlesbrough ended a four-match unbeaten streak (W3, D1), but boss Martà Cifuentes remains upbeat about his side’s chances, insisting he’s “convinced” they’ll stay up.[/p]
[p]Perhaps his confidence stems from QPR conceding the joint-fewest number of goals among sides starting the round in the bottom-eight. The capital club are decent travellers too, earning more than half of their season haul on the road (21/39). A long trip to Wearside may challenge that, as although they’re unbeaten in four trips here (W1, D3), QPR have won just once at Sunderland since April 1991 (D5, L3)![/p]
[p]Key battle: Perhaps now is the time for Jobe Bellingham to lead from the front for Sunderland, and he looks primed to do so given that six of his seven goals this term have come on home soil. Midfield rival Sam Field has had a hand in each of QPR’s last three goals (G2, A1), yet he remains winless from three previous meetings with the Black Cats (D1, L2).[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Sunderland are the only Championship team yet to draw a home league game this season.[/p]