Sunderland host Hull City in the Championship later this evening.
Sunderland are back at the Stadium of Light tonight, where they host fellow top six rivals Hull City in the Championship.
The Black Cats haven’t won since the opening day of the year when they beat Preston North End 2-0 at home.
Since then, Michael Beale has overseen a 3-0 defeat home to Newcastle United in the FA Cup, followed up by a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Ipswich Town.
Sunderland currently sit in 7th place of the Championship table compared to Hull City in 9th; Liam Rosenior’s side have won just one of their last seven in all competitions, losing away to Tony Mowbray‘s Birmingham City in the FA Cup in midweek.
David Prutton predicts more misery for Sunderland against Hull City
Giving his prediction for the Sunderland vs Hull City game tonight, Sky Sports pundit David Prutton wrote:
“Michael Beale needed a response at Ipswich after that defeat to Newcastle. Sunderland took the lead but couldn’t hold it, and the pressure is already building a little. Even though they are still very well placed in the league.
“As are Hull City. Although they are in a poor bit of form themselves, with four defeats from five. Injuries have cost them a little and you could see against Norwich they just lacked that clinical touch. But I saw enough to make me think they can get a win here and cause a few rumblings at the Stadium of Light.”
Prutton predicts a 2-1 win for the Tigers.
Two out of form teams, but Sunderland have the home advantage
Playing in front of 40,000 passionate home fans always gives Sunderland an advantage.
And Beale will take confidence from the fact that Hull City are out of form, and that his Sunderland players have had a couple of extra day’s rest than Hull who played on Tuesday night.
Still, it certainly won’t be easy for Sunderland, like Prutton predicts; Hull City have some very impressive players on their books with Fabio Carvalho having recently joined from Liverpool.
A win for the away side tonight would lift them up into 6th place of the table, leapfrogging Sunderland in the process.
So for both play-off chasing teams, there’s a lot at stake in tonight’s game, which can be viewed live on Sky Sports.
Another poor performance and poor result would pile yet more early pressure on Beale, who for the time being appears to be a fairly unpopular appointment among the Sunderland faithful.