Prediction: Sunderland vs Ipswich Town

Prediction: Sunderland to win 3-1

Best Odds: 17/1

Bookmaker: Zetbet

Sunderland and Ipswich Town will lock horns with each other in the Championship this coming weekend. The match between the Black Cats and the Tractor Boys will be held at the Stadium of Light and is scheduled to kick off at 5pm on Sunday. It promises to be a very good and entertaining match between two clubs who used to play in the Premier League and will hope to eventually get back to the top flight of English football.

Sunderland

Sunderland are one of the biggest clubs in England who believe that they belong to the Premier League. The Black Cats have one of the best stadiums in the country, Stadium of Light and have very loyal fans. Even when Sunderland were in League One, they were getting huge crowds for their matches.

The Black Cats were close to getting promoted from the Championship to the Premier League at the end of last season. Sunderland finished sixth in the Championship table last season with 69 points from 46 matches and qualified for the playoffs. They beat Luton Town 2-1 at the Stadium of Light in the first leg of the playoff semi-finals, but lost the second leg 2-0 on the road.

Sunderland will be determined to finish in the top two of the Championship table this season and end up in the automatic promotion places in the standings. Tony Mowbray’s side have been quite busy in the summer transfer window so far. The former Premier League club have signed central defender Jenson Seelt, attacking midfielder Jode Bellingham and playmaker Bradley Dack among other players.

Team News:

Luke O’Nien did not play Sunderland’s final pre-season match against Hartlepool United this week, but he is expected to be fit in time for the Championship game against Ipswich Town. Jenson Seelt, though, will not be available because he is on the sidelines with an ankle injury. Trai Hume, Dan Ballard, O’Nien and Dennis Cirkin could start.

Ipswich Town

Like Sunderland, Ipswich Town are also a former Premier League club. However, the Tractor Boys’ glory days are behind them now, as they basically now move between the Championship and League One. Although Ipswich are a big club with a strong fanbase, it is hard to see them play in the Premier League anytime soon.

Ipswich did well last season. The Tractor Boys finished as high as second in the League One table with 98 points from 46 matches. Ipswich ended up three points behind eventual winners Plymouth Argyle and two points clear of third-placed Sheffield Wednesday. Kieran McKenna’s side won automatic promotion to the Championship for this season.

Unlike Sunderland, Ipswich will not fancy their chances of getting promoted to the Premier League. Instead, the Tractor Boys will want to make sure that they do not get relegated back from the Championship. Ipswich have been quite busy in the summer transfer window. Among the players they have signed so far are central midfielder Jack Taylor, centre-forward George Hirst and attacking midfielder Omari Hutchinson.

Team News:

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna is likely to include Wes Burns and Nathan Broadhead in the starting lineup against Sunderland. Conor Chaplin could also start.

Key Factors to Consider

• Sunderland were hammered 5-2 by Hartlepool United in their final pre-season match this week.
• Sunderland conceded in each and every pre-season friendly match.
• Sunderland scored 20 goals in seven pre-season friendly games.
• Ipswich Town held Premier League newboys Luton Town to a 1-1 draw on July 25.
• Ipswich Town conceded in each and every pre-season friendly match.

Conclusion

While Ipswich Town will be brimming with optimism and confidence, it is hard to see anything but a win for Sunderland in this particular match. The Black Cats are at home, have more experience and have a better squad.