Sunderland vs Accrington Stanley Predictions

Sunderland once again failed to live up to expectations in the week, as they could only manage a 1-1 draw against Blackpool at home. Things aren’t exactly going smoothly for Jack Ross, who has seen his side slip to 4^th in the table. Sunderland are now ten points behind league leaders Accrington, while they’re four behind Barnsley. With their last match being one of their game in hands, a win would’ve been ideal, but they were frustrated, which seems to be happening on a regular basis.

The Black Cats could only manage a draw in the week, but unlike in recent weeks, their performance merited all three points. Despite going behind early doors, Ross’ men offered significantly more than their opponents going forward, as they recorded 2.09 expected goals for and conceded just 0.63. They’ve often struggled to get going offensively, but they looked a real threat on that occasion and if they can replicate that on Saturday, then a return to winning ways is likely.

Recent results haven’t been great, while their performances haven’t always been encouraging, even at home, but Friday’s match represents a good opportunity for the Black Cats, especially after they played so well on Tuesday.

Accrington aren’t the worst team in League One, far from it, and they were in the process of holding Sunderland to a draw at Crown Ground when the game was abandoned with little more than ten minutes remaining, but they’ve struggled to put their best foot forward on the road, which doesn’t exactly bode well ahead of a trip to a Stadium of Light ground that can be intimidating.

Friday’s visitors come into this fixture having won none of their last five on the road, four of which they’ve lost, while their overall efforts during that time haven’t been too pleasing. Accrington have been bettered in terms of expected goals in four of their last five away matches and have surrendered expected-goals against numbers such as 1.97, 1.43 and 2.85 during that time. Moreover, Stanley have a poor record away against the big teams, as they’re currently without a point on the road against teams currently residing in the top six.

Sunderland have shown time and time again this season that they’re not quite good enough to consistently run riot against teams at this level, but if Tuesday’s efforts are anything to go by, then they ought to have enough about them to get a result on Friday. In the betting, ‘Sunderland to Win & Under 3.5 Goals’ stands out.

Quite simply, even if they don’t look like battering teams, the figures posted by Sunderland at home are more impressive than Accrington’s efforts away. The Black Cats have generally given little away at home, while they currently boast an average expected goal difference of +0.47, which is better than Accrington’s of -0.27 on the road. Moreover, they’re shipping an average of 1.07 at Stadium of Light, while Accrington are conceding an average of 1.57 on the road. Backing Jack Ross’ men to regain the winning thread by edging out a visiting side that hasn’t enjoyed life away from home of late is the way to go ahead of Friday’s televised encounter.