Cardiff vs Sunderland prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2024-03-28 15:00.
[p]In spite of winning their four previous games, Cardiff City went into the international break on the back of a crushing 2-0 defeat at bitter rivals Swansea City, a result that leaves the Bluebirds eight points adrift of the play-offs. Manager Erol Bulut sensationally accused some of his players of “hiding” in that loss which removed any room for error in their promotion push.[/p]
[p]Any push for the top-six is likely to be propelled by their form at the Cardiff City Stadium, where they’re unbeaten in their last four (W3, D1) – a run that’s seen them concede just twice. The visit of Sunderland to the Welsh capital may not offer the sternest resistance to that record either, with the Bluebirds winning four of the last five H2Hs (L1), with each of the last three victories in that run accompanied by a clean sheet.[/p]
[p]After failing to do so in their previous 12 matches across all competitions, Sunderland finally kept a clean sheet of their own in their last game, a 0-0 home draw against relegation-threatened QPR. That point also put an end to a sequence of six successive defeats, form which has seen the Black Cats drop from the play-offs into mid-table obscurity.[/p]
[p]With no permanent manager yet in place, Sunderland start the round closer to the drop zone than the top-six. Caretaker manager Mike Dodds is still looking for his first win (D1, L4) since replacing Michael Beale last month, and an away assignment looks unlikely to yield that maiden victory as the Black Cats have won just one of their last 14 away fixtures (D4, L9) – a run that includes four successive defeats.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Right-back Perry Ng got the winning assist in Cardiff’s last home game and has been involved in five of their 11 goals since the turn of the year (G3, A2). With leading scorer Jack Clarke still out injured, Jobe Bellingham is Sunderland’s only available player with more than five goals this season – four of his six strikes this term arrived after half-time. [/p]
[p]Hot streak: The away side on the day has won each of the last three H2Hs by a 1-0 scoreline.[/p]