The Stadium of Light will play hosts to Sunderland versus Reading this weekend as the Black Cats look to get their spot in the playoffs after a great run of form sees the club in ninth and behind the top six by just two points.
Sunderland have played a game more than Millwall just above them in eighth, but with them having played one game less than Watford in fifth, a victory for them here would be a huge plus heading into that game in hand coming up soon. Sunderland did lose in midweek to Fulham in the FA Cup fourth round replay at home, but they have managed to secure a fantastic win over third-placed Middlesbrough and draw 1-1 with Millwall at The Den in the past three weeks.
Sunderland head into this one as the favourite after a solid run of form has seen them seriously reignite their playoff hopes and a return to the Premier League. The Black Cats are sitting at 4/5 in this one on the full time result 2UP market - if your team takes a two-goal lead at any stage before Full Time, they'll immediately settle your bet as a winner. Reading sit at 3/1 in this sense and 10/3 to just win the game. Over 2.5 goals also sits at 2.5 in this one, which is a rarity in Sunderland games at home.
Under 2.5 goals is now at 8/11 and under 3.5 goals sits at 1/4. Joe Gelhardt has been scoring once more for Sunderland and he is 5/1 to net first or last in the game and 7/4 just to score. Amad Diallo is having a sensational season on loan from Manchester United in the North East, and he is 11/2 to score first or last in the game and 2/1 to net at any stage in the game.
Alex Pritchard, Jack Clarke and Patricks Roberts have all got goals this season for Sunderland and they sit at 7/1 each to score the first or last goal in the 90 minutes and 5/2 to net at any stage in the game. Given how under and over 2.5 goals are a little wayward in this market, Sunderland to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 is at 15/8 while Sunderland to win 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2 sits at 11/2. Reading to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 also sits at 9/2 and for Reading to win 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2, the odds are a high 16/1.
