Sunderland vs Blackburn prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2024-03-31 14:00.
[p]Sunderland appear to be rediscovering some form after beating Cardiff City 2-0 to make their Good Friday live up to its name by ending a seven-game winless run (D1, L6). That streak meant any hopes of a play-off push are pretty much over, but a top-half finish is still achievable, and head coach Michael Dodds is optimistic, saying he hopes that win takes his side in a “completely new direction”.[/p]
[p]With four home league games remaining this season, the Black Cats are now seeking a first win at the Stadium of Light since beating Plymouth 3-1 in early February (D1, L2). They’ve reason to be confident about the visit of struggling Blackburn Rovers as Sunderland are unbeaten across the last six H2Hs here (W4, D2) with the last four of those games each producing exactly three goals (W4).[/p]
[p]Blackburn head east having lost to high-flying Ipswich 1-0 on Good Friday and without a competitive win since early February (D6, L4), they’re looking over their shoulder towards the relegation zone. While head coach John Eustace said he was proud of Friday’s performance, it left them sitting just three places and three points ahead of the bottom three.[/p]
[p]Injuries and illness have hampered Rovers recently but pushing Ipswich hard despite several absentees might give them some encouragement as they seek a first league away win since late November (D3, L7). But only bottom side Rotherham (20 matches) have gone longer without a Championship road win, suggesting Blackburn’s poor recent record here could be set to continue.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Jobe Bellingham’s goal for Sunderland against Cardiff took him to seven for the season and made him the first player under the age of 19 to reach that figure in the Championship since 2020/21. Sammie Szmodics, the last man to score away from home for Blackburn, has netted three of his last four competitive goals between the 60th and 80th minute.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Sunderland haven’t lost any of their last four league games played on Easter Monday (W1, D3) while Blackburn are winless across their last three in the second tier (D1, L2).[/p]