Sunderland vs Crystal Palace Predictions

• Sunderland are unbeaten in nine at home.
• Palace are on a nine game winless run (D4, L5).
• Palace lost at Non League Macclesfield last week.

Mid-table pair clash on Wearside

Sunderland and Crystal Palace meet in a mid-table Premier League affair on Saturday afternoon with both sides struggling for form.

The Black Cats were early season European challengers after winning promotion but have just four points to show from their last five games, leaving them in 10th spot. Regis Le Bris’ men are just three points behind Brentford in fifth and they will fancy their chances of ending their winless run against Palace.

The visitors saw their FA Cup defence ended at the first hurdle last weekend as they slipped to a staggering 2-1 loss at National League North side Macclesfield. That defeat was the biggest upset in the history of the competition in terms of the respective league positions of the two sides and we should see some reaction from the Eagles this weekend, although that may not translate into any points.

Home comforts key for Sunderland

Sunderland may be on a six-game winless run across all competitions but their home form remains excellent. The north east club have gone nine games without defeat at their Stadium of Light home and have held title challengers Arsenal and Man City to draws across their last five home games.

Palace have three defeats and no wins across their last four away games and have lost back-to-back trips in the league, conceding six goals and scoring just once, so Sunderland look the more likely winners here.

Eagles can strike in defeat

Sunderland have conceded in four of their last six home games and have gone three games without a clean sheet overall. Palace are generally good for at least a goal on their travels, having scored in nine of their last 10 trips, so goals at both ends could be on the cards and a 2-1 home win is the pick.

Sunderland score on average 1.6 goals per-game at home and three of their five home league wins have come via one-goal margins.

The hosts have shared the goals around this season and Brian Brobbey has three strikes to his name. The Dutchman should return to the starting side after coming off the bench in the cup against Everton last weekend and he looks a contender for an anytime effort, having scored in the stalemate with Spurs recently.