Sunderland will be welcoming Sheffield Wednesday at the Stadium of Light on Thursday evening, with both teams trying to protect lengthy unbeaten runs.
The Black Cats are currently sitting second in the League One table, while the visitors are two points behing the playoffs in the eighth spot.
Sunderland moved into the automatic promotion positions in League One with a 3-0 away victory against Doncaster Rovers on Monday.
A penalty from Ross Stewart, a goal from Elliot Embleton and an own goal from Ben Blythe gave Sundrland a comfortable victory and saw them move to within one point of leaders Rotherham United.
Lee Johnson’s side are unbeaten in their last eight league matches and they have lost just once at the Stadium of Light in League One this season.
There is no team in the third division have picked up more points at home in 2021-22 than Sunderland, who have taken 28 from a possible 33 on Wearside. They have also conceded just six goals in their 11 home league games, the fewest in the division.
Sheffield Wednesday have the third best defence in League One, having let in only 21 goals which could make the game a low-scoring affair.
Their last two fixtures have been postponed, as they last played on December 11 when they won 2-0 away at Crewe Alexandra with goals from Barry Bannan and Lee Gregory.
Darren Moore’s team have not lost in their last 12 league matches, although seven of those have been draws, and they are on a eight-game unbeaten run away from home and have lost just twice on the road this season.
Sheffield Wednesday won 3-0 against Sunderland earlier in the season through goals from Gregory, Theo Corbeanu and Florian Kamberi, with that being their third successive victory over the Black Cats.
Sunderland vs Sheffield Wednesday head to head
The two teams have previously had 88 encounters across all competitions, with Sheffield Wednesday taking 37 victories while Sunderland have 30, and they have drawn in 21. Sunderland have scored 137 gaols and conceded 149. In their last five meetings, Sheffield Wednesday have won three and Sunderland one, with one draw.
Sheffield Wednesday 2-4 Sunderland 20/01/07
Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Sunderland 16/08/17
Sunderland 1-3 Sheffield Wednesday 02/04/18
Sunderland 0-2 Sheffield Wednesday 16/08/18
Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 Sunderland 02/11/21
Sunderland latest home form
Sunderland have recently been on a relatively good form at home, as they have not lost in any of their last three games. Their last defeat came on December 1 when they lost 1-0 to Oldham Athletic in the EFL Trophy. In their last five, they have won three, drawn one and lost one.
Sunderland 2-0 Ipswich Town20/11/21
Sunderland 0-1 Oldham Athletic 01/12/21
Sunderland 1-1 Oxford United 04/12/21
Sunderland 5-0 Morecambe 07/12/21
Sunderland 2-1 Plymouth Argyle 11/12/21
Sunderland latest away form
Sunderland recently lost heavily 5-1 to Arsenal in the League Cup away from home. However, they have been on a relatively good form on the road, and they won in their last outing. In their last five, they have won two, drawn two and lost one, scoring 8 goals and conceding 8.
Shrewsbury Town 1-1 Sunderland 23/11/21
Cambridge United 1-2 Sunderland 27/11/21
Ipswich Town 1-1 Sunderland 18/12/21
Arsenal 5-1 Sunderland 21/12/21
Doncaster Rovers 0-3 Sunderland 27/12/21
Sheffiled Wednesday latest home form
Sheffield Wednesday lost their last home game 3-0 to Hartlepool in the EFL Trophy. However, they have been on a good run of form at home, having not lost in eight games prior to that. In their last five home games, they have won two, drawn two and lost one.
Sheffield Wednesday 4-0 Harrogate Town 09/11/21
Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Gillingham 13/11/21
Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Milton Keynes Dons 23/11/21
Sheffield Wednesday 2-2 Wycombe Wanderers 27/11/21
Sheffield Wednesday 0-3 Hartlepool 01/12/21
Sheffield Wednesday latest away form
Sheffield have been on a good run of form on the road, as they have lost just once in their last ten away matches. That defeat came recently when they lost 3-0 to Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup. In their last five, they have won two, drawn two and lost one.
Cheltenham Town 2-2 Sheffield Wednesday 30/10/21
Plymouth Argyle 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday 16/11/21
Accrington Stanley 2-3 Sheffield Wednesday 20/11/21
Portsmouth 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday 07/12/21
Crewe Alexandra 0-2 Sheffield Wednesday 11/12/21
Sunderland news
Aiden O’Brien missed against Doncaster Rovers, testing positive for Covid-19, and is likely to miss again. Carl Winchester was also absent, but he should not be out for long.
Everton loanee Nathan Broadhead will be sidelined with a hamstring injury for a minimum of three months, with Ross Stewart continuing as the lone striker upfront.
Sheffield Wednesday news
Massimo Luongo is serving the second of his three-match suspension and he will be unavailable. The Owls’ extended break has allowed Chey Dunkley to return to fitness and he should be back in the squad.
Josh Windass has been on the sidelines for most of the season, but has two goals in three league games, and will be pushing for a start.
Prediction and Odds
Both teams are holding on to the ambitions of promotion, and have been tough to defeat recently, which could make the game a closely contested one.
Sheffield Wednesday have won in their last three encounters, which is something Sunderland will want to overturn, and we could see the game ending level.
Odds: 1 2.25 X 3.05 2 2.50
Probable outcomes
Sunderland 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Sunderland 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Sunderland 2-2 Sheffield Wednesday
Sunderland 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday
Sunderland 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday


















