MATCH PREVIEW

Sunderland will look to bounce back from their first setback of the Championship season when they host Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. Sunderland, who dropped to second in the table after losing to Plymouth Argyle last weekend, aim to return to winning ways, while their visitors, Middlesbrough, are four points behind, having drawn with Preston North End in their most recent outing.

Sunderland started the 2024-25 season on a high under new manager Regis Le Bris, winning their first four league matches against Cardiff City, Sheffield Wednesday, Burnley, and Portsmouth, scoring 10 goals and conceding just one. However, their perfect start came to an end against Plymouth, where they suffered a 3-2 defeat despite goals from Patrick Roberts and Romaine Mundle. Now, Sunderland will be eager to recover from that disappointment and maintain their strong form at home.

Middlesbrough, meanwhile, travel to Sunderland looking to replicate last season’s 4-0 victory at the Stadium of Light. Michael Carrick’s side has had a mixed start to the new campaign, securing a win, a draw, and a loss in their first three league games. After a 2-0 win over Cardiff City before the international break, they drew 1-1 with Preston last weekend. Middlesbrough will be aiming to build momentum and close the gap on Sunderland with a win in this Tees-Wear derby.

Sunderland Championship form:WWWWL
Sunderland form (all competitions): WLWWWL

Middlesbrough Championship form: WLDWD
Middlesbrough form (all competitions): WLDLWD

TEAM NEWS

Sunderland are likely to remain without defenders Jenson Seelt, Niall Huggins, and Aji Alese due to injuries, and Chris Mepham is not yet fit enough to join the squad following his loan move from Bournemouth. Manager Regis Le Bris could opt to field the same starting XI despite last weekend’s defeat, with Trai Hume, Dan Ballard, Luke O’Nien, and Dennis Cirkin forming the back four in the absence of the injured players.

In midfield, 17-year-old Chris Rigg and 18-year-old Jobe Bellingham are expected to partner Dan Neil, while Patrick Roberts, Eliezer Mayenda, and Romaine Mundle will likely continue in attack, with Mundle having scored in three consecutive Championship matches.

Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick is dealing with several injury concerns, including defenders Darragh Lenihan, Dael Fry, Tommy Smith, and Alex Bangura, as well as midfielder Jonny Howson and forward Marcus Forss. Despite the injuries, Carrick will probably stick with a similar lineup, with Luke Ayling, Matt Clarke, George Edmundson, and Neto Borges forming the back four.

In midfield, Aidan Morris may push for a start after being left out in favor of Daniel Barlaser and Hayden Hackney in the previous game. Ben Doak and Delano Burgzorg will also challenge for a spot in the attack, alongside Isaiah Jones, Tommy Conway, Finn Azaz, and Emmanuel Latte Lath, who scored 16 goals in his debut Championship season.

Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Hume, Ballard, O’Nien, Cirkin; Rigg, Neil, Bellingham; Roberts, Mayenda, Mundle

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Dieng; Ayling, Edmundson, Clarke, Borges; Hackney, Morris; Doak, Conway, Azaz; Latte Lath

MATCH PREDICTION

We declare: Middlesbrough 1-1 Sunderland Sunderland will be eager to get back on track after their home derby loss the previous week, but the visitors are capable of challenging the hot Black Cats, so we predict a share of the spoils at the Stadium of Light.