For our Sunderland vs. Stoke prediction, we're going for a 2-1 win for the home side.
Sunderland continue their quest for a top six finish in the Championship this season as they face Stoke City this weekend.
Sunderland currently sit 9th in the Championship with thirteen wins, ten draws and eleven losses from thirty-four games this season.
The Black Cats have had a fine season in the Championship upon returning following promotion from League One last season as they find themselves with a very real chance of finishing in the play-off spots with just twelve games remaining.
They do, however, enter this game amidst a slight dip in form having failed to win any of their last three league games, losing their last two consecutively.
Their most recent outing saw them fall to a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Coventry City.
Their home form is fairly encouraging entering this game having won two, drawn one and lost one of their last four league games.
Sunderland have suffered two disappointing 2-1 losses in a row and need to rebound here to try and regain some lost momentum. Adam Diallo scored on the weekend and his production has been fantastic last season, and if he can go up a level in the final weeks of the season he could well carry The Black Cats to a top six finish. For now, a home game against Stoke is a must-win.
Stoke City currently sit 17th in the Championship with eleven wins, seven draws and sixteen losses from thirty-four games this season.
Stoke have had a fairly forgettable campaign that their fans are almost certainly ready to see the back of after spending the majority of it languishing in the bottom half of the table.
Recent fears of relegation have been, for now, dispelled following a few big wins as they enter this game having won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five matches in the league.
Their away form isn't particularly encouraging coming into this one having won one and lost three of their last four on the road, but having won their most recent away game they'll be hoping there's more to come in that regard.
Stoke lost 0-1 to Sunderland when the two sides met in the league back in August and they'll be desperate to get one back here.
Stoke should finish fairly clear of the bottom four as they find themselves nine points clear of the relegation zone, but given their chances of a play-off spot are slim to none their season feels almost over. They're still threat, but Sunderland should win this one.
Don’t forget to check out the rest of our previews, tips and offers for this weekend’s action.