‘New’ kick-off time for Sunderland vs. Swansea City – prediction, team news, lineups
Sunderland and Swansea City will be looking to extend their respective three-game unbeaten runs when they lock horns in Saturday’s clash at the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats are in fourth place in the Championship table, while the Swans will head into the weekend in 14th position.
Match preview
Sunderland are on course to finish the season in fourth place after winning 21, drawing 13 and losing seven of their 41 league matches.
With nine points separating them from the top two, automatic promotion appears to be out of Sunderland’s reach, meaning they will focus on building momentum in their final five matches ahead of the Championship playoffs.
The Black Cats will carry a three-game unbeaten run into Saturday’s fixture, having collected seven points from a possible nine since they lost 3-0 away to Coventry City on March 15.
Regis Le Bris’s side recorded consecutive 1-0 wins over Millwall and West Bromwich Albion, before they claimed a third successive clean sheet in Tuesday’s goalless draw with Norwich City at Carrow Road.
Sunderland now have the opportunity to clinch four consecutive Championship clean sheets for the first time since 2006-07.
The Black Cats are also looking to complete a league double over Swansea for the first time since 1963-64 after coming from two goals down to pull off a 3-2 victory in December’s reverse fixture at Swansea.com Stadium.
Swansea are set to extend their seven-season stay in the second tier after alleviating their lingering relegation fears with a three-game unbeaten run.
They come from behind on two occasions to take a point off Leeds United at Elland Road, before they return to Wales to claim back-to-back victories over Derby County and Plymouth County.
After edging out the Rams via a 1-0 scoreline, the Swans went on to record a commanding 3-0 victory over Plymouth in Wednesday’s outing, courtesy of goals from Lewis O’Brien, Harry Darling and Josh Key.
After collecting their fourth win in five home matches, Swansea will make the long trip to the North East with hopes of ending their four-game winless away run.
In fact, the Swans have lost six of their previous nine Championship away matches (W1, D2), suggesting they will have their work cut out to become just the second team to beat Sunderland in a league game at the Stadium of Light this season.
With that said, Saturday’s visitors have won each of their previous three away league games against Sunderland, including a 2-1 win on their most recent trip to the Stadium of Light in February 2024.
Sunderland Championship form:
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Swansea City Championship form:
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Team News
Sunderland are unable to call upon the services of Dan Ballard, Dennis Cirkin, Niall Huggins, Ahmed Abdullahi, Aji Alese, Jenson Seelt, Romaine Mundle and Ian Poveda.
Jobe Bellingham is set to return to the squad after missing Tuesday’s win as a precaution, although it remains to be seen whether he will be risked from the start.
Salis Abdul Samed has returned to training following a six-game injury absence, and is now in contention to feature in the matchday squad.
As for the visitors, Myles Peart-Harris returned to his parent club Brentford last month after he sustained a season-ending back injury.
Swansea interim boss Alan Sheehan is also without defender Kristian Pedersen, who is still working his way back from a long-term injury absence.
Midfielder Jay Fulton is pushing for a recall after coming off the bench to play around half an hour in Wednesday’s commanding win over Plymouth.
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Hume, Mepham, O’Nien, Hjelde; Browne, Neil, Rigg; Roberts, Watson, Mayenda
Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Vigouroux; Key, Cabango, Darling, Tymon; Franco, Fulton; Ronald, O’Brien, Eom; Vipotnik
We say: Sunderland 2-0 Swansea City
Sunderland have three of their last five home matches, and we think they will enjoy more success in Saturday’s outing at the Stadium of Light, especially as Swansea have lost six of their previous nine Championship away games.
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