Sunderland have a tricky test on the horizon with a trip to Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night, and Championship experts are finding it a tough one to call with their score predictions.
Both teams go into this weekend’s fixture in desperate need of three points, after a poor run of form.
Sunderland have lost back-to-back games for the first time this season, falling to defeat against Leeds United and Hull City in the last two matches.
Sheffield Wednesday, meanwhile, have seen their play-off hopes take a serious dent in recent weeks, with defeats against Coventry City and Burnley.
As we prepare to watch Sheffield Wednesday vs Sunderland on Friday, we can expect plenty of changes in Regis Le Bris’ lineup, with injuries forcing his hand.
It’s a strange fixture that could go either way, and two Championship experts have offered their thoughts on the clash.
Sunderland need to relax and get the job done against Sheffield Wednesday
Discussing the upcoming fixture on the Championship Check-In podcast, Benjamin Bloom billed this as a battle between two teams with “lovely big fan bases” and reminded us all that Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday were rivals in the League One play-off semi-final a few years ago, too.
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On that topic, Sam Parkin said: “If memory serves me rightly, they played out a couple of stinkers in the play-offs actually. They weren’t good games.
“I’m going to continue in that trend. It’s not necessarily pressure off, but maybe Sunderland can just relax now having had that defeat against Hull. Maybe their hunt for those automatic promotion places is gone now.
“Sheffield Wednesday are a better away team than they are at Hillsborough… I’ll go for 0-1 to Sunderland to nick this.”
Bloom chimed in with his prediction, adding: “Sunderland won’t want to lose a third game in a row. Sheffield Wednesday have already lost three in four games. I’m going to go for a 1-1.”
Sheffield Wednesday arguably have more to fight for now
It’s a weird one, because although Sunderland are still right up there and do mathematically still have a chance of automatic promotion, it is Sheffield Wednesday who really have more to fight for.
The Owls can still make the play-offs, while Sunderland have pretty much got that place wrapped up and just need to keep battling on until the end of the season and try to build as much momentum as they can.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 9 |  WatfordWatford | 34 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 45 | 48 | -3 | 48 |
| 10 |  NorwichNorwich | 34 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 55 | 47 | 8 | 47 |
| 11 |  MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough | 34 | 13 | 8 | 13 | 54 | 46 | 8 | 47 |
| 12 |  MillwallMillwall | 34 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 45 |
| 13 | Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 46 | 54 | -8 | 45 |
| 14 |  QPRQPR | 34 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 40 | 43 | -3 | 44 |
| 15 |  PrestonPreston | 34 | 9 | 15 | 10 | 36 | 41 | -5 | 42 |
| 16 |  SwanseaSwansea | 34 | 11 | 7 | 16 | 37 | 46 | -9 | 40 |
In that sense, Sunderland could end up coasting for these next 12 matches, whereas Sheffield Wednesday have to push harder than ever to keep themselves in the conversation for a top-six finish.
Danny Rohl’s side will be desperate to win, especially considering the battering they got at the Stadium of Light back in August. At home, in front of an expectant Hillsborough crowd, and with everything on the line, Sheffield Wednesday will be very dangerous opponents indeed.