David Prutton has made a very interesting prediction ahead of Stoke vs Sunderland this weekend.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the former midfielder tipped the Black Cats to be held to a draw, despite a ‘massive’ gap between the two sides.
Sunderland had been enjoying a brilliant run of form prior to their 4-0 defeat to Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light.
However, Tony Mowbray‘s side remain fourth in the Championship table and have only lost away from home once this season.
Meanwhile, Sunderland fans will be delighted to see Alex Neil enduring a difficult start to the new campaign in the Midlands.
Stoke currently sit only two points above the relegation zone and have won only one of their last eight games in all competitions.
Despite the clear gulf in quality between the two teams, Prutton believes the Potters will claim a point in a dramatic 2-2 scoreline at the bet365 Stadium.
“The pressure is on for Alex Neil,” Prutton told Sky Sports.
“Stoke have been poor, and he will be really feeling it as he faces the side he left to join the Potters last year. The gap between the two is massive right now.
“Sunderland were drubbed by Middlesbrough, but they were down to 10 players and tend to bounce back well this season. Their fans will be desperate to get one over Neil, but I think it will be spoils shared.”
Can Sunderland beat Alex Neil’s Stoke?
If this was any other team that had been so poor this season, Sunderland would walk straight through them – no questions asked.
However, it is Alex Neil. The 5-1 loss at the Stadium of Light back in March shows us all we need to know about this tie.
It will be interesting to see how the Black Cats come out after such an embarrassing defeat to Boro, but the team definitely need a comfortable win to get things going again.
Stoke is definitely a hard place to go, but there is absolutely no excuse for us not to be winning this. Though that could potentially change if Pierre Ekwah isn’t fit in Dan Neil’s absence.