Sunderland vs Birmingham Predictions

• Sunderland have won four of their last six home league matches
• Birmingham have lost their last five away league games
• Sunderland won both league meetings with Birmingham last season 2-1

Rooney’s slow start set to continue

The Wayne Rooney era at Birmingham has got off to a sluggish start with the Blues taking only one point from their four Championship games under his charge.

Birmingham were beaten by Middlesbrough, Hull and Southampton in their opening three games with Rooney at the helm and then they threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home to Ipswich last weekend.

With Birmingham having suffered five straight away defeats in the Championship, they may be fearing the worst against a youthful Sunderland side that will have high ambitions of again breaking into the playoff places.

The Black Cats finished sixth last season and after 15 games this term they are eighth, within two points of the playoffs.

Tony Mowbray’s side suffered three straight league defeats in October but they have steadied the ship in recent assignments, building on a 3-1 home win over Norwich with a goalless draw at Swansea.

Sunderland would have been frustrated to only leave with a point against ten-man Swans as they won the shot count 25-3.

Home comforts can help Black Cats

However, they can put that right at the Stadium of Light, where they have won four of their seven league games this term.

The Black Cats completed a league double over Birmingham last season, winning 2-1 home and away, and they should be able to find a way to maintain that superiority.

All seven of Sunderland’s league wins this term have featured at least two goals and this should do so too, so correct-score punters can opt for a repeat 2-1 victory.