Sunderland vs Middlesbrough Match Analysis & Prediction
21/09/2024 2:30 pm
Looking to bounce back from a first setback of the Championship season last weekend, Sunderland play host to Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts dropped to second position in the Championship table after seeing their perfect start brought to an end against Plymouth Argyle, while the visitors are four points worse off at this early stage having shared the points with Preston North End last time out.
Sunderland return to action on Saturday aiming to make a swift return to winning ways in the Championship, having suffered a first loss of the season last time out after enjoying a perfect start.
The Black Cats headed into the 2024-25 season under the new management of Regis Le Bris and went into the September international break at the top of the division having won each of their first four league matches.
In that time, Sunderland overcame Cardiff City, Sheffield Wednesday, Burnley and Portsmouth, scoring 10 goals and only conceding once along the way, before returning to action on Saturday with the aim of making it five wins from five.
They faced a long trip to Plymouth Argyle and came away empty-handed for the first time in the Championship under the new manager, ultimately suffering a 3-2 defeat at Home Park despite taking the lead through Patrick Roberts and drawing level late through Romaine Mundle, as Joe Edwards scored the decisive goal for the hosts in injury time.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough make the short trip with the aim of replicating last season’s visit to the Stadium of Light, in which they beat Sunderland 4-0 in the Tees-Wear Derby through goals from Sam Greenwood, Matt Crookes, Isaiah Jones and Marcus Forss.
After finishing two spots and four points short of the playoff places last time out, Middlesbrough headed into their second full season under the management of Michael Carrick with their sights on the top six once again, and they have experienced a mixed start.
Their first three league matches produced a win, a draw and a loss, before they headed into the September international break on a positive note following a 2-0 victory away at Cardiff City through Matt Clarke’s opener and an Aaron Ramsey own goal.
Then returning to action last weekend on seven points from four matches, Middlesbrough hosted Preston on Saturday and had to settle for a draw at the Riverside Stadium, as neither side managed to find a winner in the second half after Mads Frokjaer-Jensen cancelled out Tommy Conway’s opener.
Sunderland vs. Middlesbrough Head to head
In the previous 114 meetings between these two teams, Sunderland have claimed 49 victories while Middlesbrough have won 37, and they have drawn in 28. Middlesbrough have scored 149 goals and conceded 168 in the process.
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24/02/2018Sunderland3Middlesbrough3Championship
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05/09/2022Middlesbrough1Sunderland0Championship
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22/01/2023Sunderland2Middlesbrough0Championship
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07/10/2023Sunderland0Middlesbrough4Championship
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04/02/2024Middlesbrough1Sunderland1Championship
Sunderland Team News
Sunderland are set to remain without defenders Jenson Seelt, Niall Huggins and Aji Alese due to injuries, while Chris Mepham is yet to be deemed fit to join the squad due to his loan arrival from Bournemouth.
Le Bris could again field an unchanged starting XI despite last weekend’s late defeat, with Trai Hume, Dan Ballard, Luke O’Nien and Dennis Cirkin set to line up in an unaltered back four given those absences.
Sunderland's Last 5 Matches
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13/08/2024Preston North End2Sunderland0League Cup
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18/08/2024Sunderland4Sheffield Wednesday0Championship
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24/08/2024Sunderland1Burnley0Championship
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31/08/2024Portsmouth1Sunderland3Championship
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14/09/2024Plymouth Argyle3Sunderland2Championship
Middlesbrough Team News
Middlesbrough defenders Darragh Lenihan, Dael Fry, Tommy Smith and Alex Bargura are set to remain confined to the treatment room alongside midfielder Jonny Howson and attacker Forss.
Luke Ayling, Matt Clarke, George Edmundson and Neto Borges are set to line up in an unchanged back four, while Ben Doak and Delano Burgzorg will fight to come into a dangerous attacking unit.
Middlesbrough's Last 5 Matches
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17/08/2024Derby County1Middlesbrough0Championship
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24/08/2024Middlesbrough2Portsmouth2Championship
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27/08/2024Middlesbrough0Stoke City5League Cup
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31/08/2024Cardiff City0Middlesbrough2Championship
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14/09/2024Middlesbrough1Preston North End1Championship
Sunderland vs. Middlesbrough: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
Double Chance: Sunderland or X
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