Sunderland v Cardiff result predicted by supercomputer
Sunderland return to Championship action at the Stadium of Light this Saturday to face a Cardiff City side fighting relegation.
Off the back of a 2-1 victory away to Sheffield Wednesday, Regis Le Bris’ side will be looking to make it two wins on the bounce and remain in the promotion conversation.
As things stand, automatic promotion looks unlikely for Sunderland, but the need to gain some momentum is still present ahead of the final 11 games of the season.
The Black Cats have only lost once at home this season, though they have struggled to perform against sides in a similar position to the Welsh outfit, showcasing that this weekend’s encounter won’t be as straightforward as the table suggests.
Le Bris must learn from past mistakes
Sunderland have struggled the most this season against sides that have typically sat back and absorbed the pressure, with the intention of counter-attacking.
Defeats to the likes of Hull City and Plymouth Argyle are the main showcases of those failings, though Sunderland are still heavy favourites heading into this clash.
| Sunderland v Cardiff probabilities | W | D | L |
| Sunderland | 59.6% | 21.1% | 19.3% |
| Cardiff | 19.3% | 21.1% | 59.6% |
According to the latest supercomputer predictions via Opta, Sunderland have a 59.6 per cent chance of winning the game, with Cardiff the underdogs with a 19.3 per cent chance at taking all three points.
With the visitors just five points above the drop zone, the need for wins is growing each and every week, while for the Wearsiders, they simply need to finish the season as strongly as possible and see where the league table takes them.
Sunderland must maintain home form
If Sunderland are to have any chance of a top-two finish, winning their home games will be absolutely paramount.
Even if that isn’t achievable, entering the playoffs with as much momentum as possible will be key to success through those means, and the Stadium of Light advantage will play a big part.
Given how well they have fared so far this season, it would be a huge disappointment to miss out on promotion, but unless they are able to replicate their home form prior to the defeat to Hull City, it will be a daunting possibility.