EFL expert Sam Parkin has predicted a low-scoring game between Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland in the Championship on Boxing Day.
Sunderland travel across the north to take on Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Boxing Day, with the Black Cats looking for a third-straight win in the Championship.
Last time out, Sunderland came from behind to beat Norwich City and earn themselves a second consecutive league win for the first time since October, with the Black Cats last winning three in a row in October as well.
Blackburn though saw a six-game winning streak come to an end at Millwall last time out. John Eustace’s side sit in 5th place of the Championship table behind Sunderland in 4th, though the Black Cats are six points ahead.
Elsewhere on Boxing Day, 1st place Sheffield United take on 3rd place Burnley, whilst Leeds United in 2nd head to Stoke City.
Sam Parkin shares his Blackburn Rovers vs Sunderland score prediction
Speaking on the Championship Check-In podcast ahead of the weekend, EFL expert Sam Parkin gave his Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland score prediction.
He said: “You can’t not be impressed by Sunderland’s return to form. Two really hard-fought but… not season-defining, but big moments in their season to win these two games against sides in decent form.
“I see this again being low-scoring. I think Blackburn will score. I’m on the fence a little. I’m going to go for a 1-1.”
Was Sam Parkin’s Sunderland vs Norwich City score prediction correct?
Parkin’s Sunderland and Norwich City score prediction was on the money: he predicted the Black Cats to win 2-1, which of course they did.
The goals came from Dan Ballard and Jobe Bellingham as Sunderland secured a second-straight comeback win in the Championship.
But Ballard won’t feature for Sunderland against Blackburn Rovers owing to an injury he picked up late against the Canaries.
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Blackburn Rovers vs Sunderland H2H
Sunderland fans will certainly remember the last time that they played Blackburn, with the game arguably being the Black Cats’ worst of last season.
Blackburn Rovers thumped Sunderland 5-1 on Wearside on April Fool’s Day, though Sunderland won the reverse fixture at Ewood Park 3-1.
In fact, the two teams haven’t drawn any of their last seven games (four wins for Sunderland and three for Blackburn), in a run stretching back until the 2010/11 Premier League season.
Sunderland’s win at Ewood Park last season was their first there since a Premier League clash in 2008, in which Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cisse scored for the Black Cats.
Blackburn meanwhile have won two of their last three home games against Sunderland.