Sunderland v West Brom preview: Team news, head-to-head, prediction
Sunderland host West Brom on Tuesday night with hopes of returning to the top of the Championship after a four-game winless run.
Another draw against Millwall at the weekend provided more frustration on Wearside with the Mackems now winless in their last four although also unbeaten in nine.
West Brom will provide a stern test for the Black Cats with their own ambitions of achieving promotion this season.
Preview
Regis Le Bris’ side need a win against West Brom in reality. Performances over the last several weeks have been a show of those demonstrated earlier in the campaign and if the Black Cats are to have a shot at promotion, they need to change.
With a Leeds United victory against Swansea on Sunday (24 November), Sunderland lost their place at the top of the league albeit on goal difference.
With the Whites not in action until Wednesday, a win would send the Black Cats back to the summit of the division heading into a hectic Christmas schedule.
As for the visitors, the Baggies went on a winless run of their own this campaign but remain inside the playoff places.
Form Guide (Championship)
Sunderland: WDDDD
West Brom: DDDWD
Head to Head (Championship/Premier League)
West Brom 0-1 Sunderland (April 2024)
Sunderland 2-1 West Brom (December 2023)
West Brom 1-2 Sunderland (April 2023)
Sunderland 1-2 West Brom (December 2022)
West Brom 2-0 Sunderland (January 2017)
Team News
Le Bris will welcome a trio of players back to his squad for Tuesday’s encounter with Jobe Bellingham, Trai Hume and Patrick Roberts all coming back from suspension.
Dennis Cirkin remains out having had an operation on his wrist during the international break while Romaine Mundle and Alan Browne will be unlikely to feature again in 2024.
As for West Brom, Darnell Furlong will be absent having picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in their previous game with Reece Hall his potential replacement.
Semi Ajayi is one of several first-team players on a long injury list who will miss the game with ex-Black Cats loanee Callum Styles finding himself in the Baggies lineup as of late.
Predicted lineups
Sunderland – Patterson, Hume, O’Nien, Mepham, Alese, Neil, Rigg, Jobe, Watson, Roberts, Isidor
West Brom – Palmer, Hall, Holgate, Heggem, Styles, Fellows, Molumby, Mowatt, Johnston, Maja, Grant
Where to watch?
Sunderland’s home clash against West Brom will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football on Tuesday, 26 November with the game set to kick off at 8 pm GMT.
Score prediction – Sunderland 1-1 West Brom
The Black Cats need a win but against a tough opposition in West Brom it’s tricky to forecast one.
The Baggies have showcased themselves as a side very hard to beat while Sunderland have failed to break teams down in recent weeks.
The game looks almost destined to finish as a draw.
In other Sunderland news, Liverpool are reportedly keen on signing one of the Black Cats’ hottest prospects.
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