Sunderland and Watford are in action on Saturday, in one of just four games in the Championship as the next round of FA Cup fixtures takes place.
In January, Stoke City knocked Sunderland out of the FA Cup on what was a turgid afternoon for the Black Cats. But in the grand scheme, it really doesn’t matter that much.
Regis Le Bris and his players are fully honed in on a promotion push this season, with their midweek win at Middlesbrough keeping them in 4th place of the Championship table.
Eight points stand between leaders Leeds United and Sunderland, whilst the Black Cats are just three away from Burnley in joint 2nd. Watford meanwhile have seen their positive start drop off, sitting in 12th but still just three points from the play-off places.
Sam Parkin shares Sunderland vs Watford score prediction
Going into this weekend, the Black Cats have lost just one of their last 12 in the Championship and have won four of their last six, in which they’re unbeaten too.
Tom Cleverley’s Watford on the other hand have lost their last three. Last time out, the Hornets were beaten 1-0 at home to Norwich City having won just one of their last eight in the league, losing six.
Speaking on the Championship Check In, EFL expert Sam Parkin predicted a 2-1 win for the Black Cats on Saturday lunchtime. He said: “I can’t go against Sunderland. I think they’re in much better fettle than Watford currently, I think managerially and also maybe a little bit of a disappointing transfer window [at Watford].”
Parkin later added: “I’m going to go for it to be a bit tight here. Especially after the amount of energy that they would’ve used up last night [against Middlesbrough], I’m going to go for Sunderland to win, but Sunderland to win by two goals to one.”
What business did Watford do in the January transfer window?
Sunderland enjoyed a very positive January transfer window signing Enzo Le Fee and Jayden Danns on loan, whilst making Wilson Isidor a permanent player.
Watford signed three players too, including two on loan in James Abankwah from Udinese and Caleb Wiley from Chelsea. Norway goalkeeper Egil Selvik joined on a permanent deal from Udinese.
The Hornets also let four players leave the club. Ken Sema moves to Paphos on a permanent deal, defender Ryan Porteous has joined Preston on loan, Antonio Tikvic has moved to Austrian outfit Grazer AK on loan, and goalkeeper Myles Roberts has joined Bristol Rovers on loan.