West Brom v Sunderland result predicted by supercomputer
Sunderland will be back in Championship action on Saturday when they make the trip to The Hawthorns to face West Brom.
It is an important battle at the top of the division between two teams vying for a spot in the playoffs come the end of the season.
Sunderland currently sit in fourth place with West Brom just two places behind them, with this potentially being a preview of a playoff fixture at the end of the campaign.
The Black Cats head into the game on the back of a 1-0 win against Millwall, where Trai Hume’s 20th-minute goal proved to be enough to earn his team three points.
A clean sheet is something that would be welcomed against the Baggies in what will likely prove to be an even tougher test this time around.
Sunderland want to help secure their playoff future
West Brom had their six-game unbeaten streak ended when they returned from the most recent international break, which is something they will be keen to set right at Sunderland’s expense.
However, Regis Le Bris’s men will be confident that they can cause West Brom problems with their youthful squad having an abundance of energy.
| Table | Games Played | Won | Goal Difference | Points |
| 4. Sunderland | 39 | 20 | +19 | 72 |
| 5. Coventry | 39 | 17 | +5 | 59 |
| 6. West Brom | 39 | 13 | +13 | 57 |
According to Opta’s supercomputer, Sunderland have just a 27.6 per cent chance of winning this game, as they travel to the Midlands as the underdogs, despite their superior league position.
West Brom boast a 45.5 per cent chance of victory while a draw is the least likely outcome, with that being a result that wouldn’t truly benefit either side at this stage in the season.
Sunderland are simply looking for momentum
Le Bris’s side has all but wrapped up their playoff position at this stage in the season, which means the main focus is on gaining as much momentum as possible for that competition.
Sunderland are aiming for a monumental return to the English top flight, but in order to get to the Premier League, they will want to build up confidence to cause problems in the playoffs.
The best way of doing that is to continue getting wins on the board, including against a direct promotion rivals in West Brom.