Sunderland play their first home game of the season this weekend.
Sunderland will play at the Stadium of Light for the first time this season on Sunday.
And for manager Regis Le Bris, it’s a first home game as Sunderland boss following his summer appointment.
So far for Le Bris, it seems to be so good; Sunderland beat Cardiff City 2-0 in their opening Championship fixture last weekend.
But the Black Cats lost vs Preston North End in the Carabao Cup in midweek, albeit playing a completely changed XI to the one that beat Cardiff.
Sunderland host Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday with the game being shown live on Sky Sports.
Coincidentally, the last competitive game at the Stadium of Light was between the Black Cats and Wednesday.
Sheffield Wednesday beat Sunderland 2-0 on the final day to secure their Championship safety, condemning Sunderland to a disappointing 16th place finish under temporary boss Mike Dodds.
The Owls won their opening game of this season 4-0 against Plymouth Argyle, beating Hull City 2-1 in the Carabao Cup in midweek.
David Prutton gives Sunderland vs Sheffield Wednesday score prediction
Speaking on Sky Sports Championship Predictions ahead of the weekend, Prutton gave his views on Sheffield Wednesday.
Prutton said of the Owls’ win vs Plymouth: “They were brilliant, Wednesday. Plymouth Argyle were very poor.
“But what Danny [Rohl, Sheffield Wednesday manager] did in the tail-end of last season, and it looked pretty comfortable by that final game… Hopefully something to build upon.
“A thumping 4-0 win helps the momentum going forward.”
And on Sunderland, Prutton said: “Sunderland; a very Jack Clarke-goal coming from very Jack Clarke-movement, and Luke O’Nien scoring possible the easiest goal he’s ever going to score in his life [vs Cardiff City].
Prutton added: “They made managerial appointments, of course, which didn’t work out.
“They’ve now got a manager who seems very early on to have got the gist of what the remit is there.”
Prutton though predicts a 3-2 Sheffield Wednesday win vs Sunderland.
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Sheffield Wednesday may have one thing that Sunderland don’t right now
Sheffield Wednesday certainly look like dark horses this season, and they’ll be a completely different challenge to what they were last May.
So the Owls seem to have momentum right now and that can be very difficult to go up against.
Sunderland though, in Le Bris, have an more experienced head in charge, and in names like Clarke, Jobe Bellingham and several others, they have individual quality in their first-team squad, which Wednesday don’t have as much of.
It’ll certainly be a tough game for both sides. But in front of the home fans, Sunderland should fancy their chances of what would be a huge win.