Sunderland travel to QPR in the Championship this weekend, where they’ll look to maintain their five-point lead at the top of the pile.
Already after 12 games of the new season, Sunderland have a five-point lead at the top of the Championship table, looking good in their quest for Premier League football.
Last time out, Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland beat Oxford United 2-0 at the Stadium of Light in what was a thoroughly dominant performance.
The Black Cats have won their last three in the Championship whereas QPR haven’t won any of their last eight in the league, currently sitting in 23rd place of the table.
In fact, the R’s have won just one Championship game all season. But they’ve drawn their last two now, holding Burnley to a 0-0 draw at Turf Moor in their last outing.
Sunderland were linked with QPR manager Marti Cifuentes in the summer, though he obviously remained in West London where the going’s gotten tough.
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Sam Parkin’s QPR vs Sunderland score prediction
Speaking on the Championship Check-In podcast, pundit and Sky Sports commentator Sam Parkin shared his score prediction for QPR and Sunderland.
And much to the surprise of co-host Benjamin Bloom, Parkin predicted Sunderland to slip up against QPR.
Parkin said: “It’s really difficult, because everything points towards a Sunderland win, but it’s got to stop [at some point].
“Are they significantly better than everyone else? I know they’ve got a little cushion at the moment, and I’m not under-playing what an amazing start to the season it’s been, and when I’ve watched them, they are so easy on the eye.
“It’s got to run out at some point. I’m going to go for a goalless draw.”
QPR vs Sunderland H2H
QPR haven’t beaten Sunderland since 2018 with the Black Cats having won two out of five meetings since then, drawing three.
In September last season, Sunderland beat QPR 3-1 at Loftus Road, courtesy of goals from Jack Clarke, Dan Ballard, and Abdoullah Ba, before drawing the game at the Stadium of Light 0-0.
Sunderland also won their second-to-last trip to QPR, winning 3-0 in February 2023.
QPR have only beaten Sunderland once since 2014 with that win coming at home in the 2017/18 Championship season in which the Black Cats finished in dead last.
In this current season, Sunderland have the best away record (12 points taken from six games), whilst QPR boast the 23rd best home record (three points taken from six games, all three points coming from draws).