Sunderland vs Luton Predictions

• Both of the league meetings between these sides finished 1-1.
• Sunderland have scored in seven consecutive games and only Burnley have denied them a goal since the World Cup break.
• Luton have scored in eight of their last nine away games.

Expect a tight affair at the Stadium of Light

Sunderland stormed into the play-off places on the final day of the season, while Luton have had a while to prepare for their promotion bid after finishing third in the Championship.

The hatters finished 11 points ahead of their hosts in the final standings but these sides look evenly matched regardless and both league games this term finished as 1-1 draws.

It could be a case of the same again on Saturday in the first leg of this Championship play-off semi-final, so the goals markets look the best starting point and both teams to score appeals here.

Both teams capable of finding a way through

Sunderland are perhaps lacking an out-and-out striker or goalscorer, with Amad Diallo their top marksman this term with 13 goals in the Championship, but they have shared their strikes around and have been excellent in attack since the action resumed after the World Cup break.

The Black Cats have scored in each of their last seven games and only Burnley have managed to deny them a goal in any game since the World Cup.

Luton aren’t particularly prolific scorers either and their 57 goals means they have statistically the weakest attack in the top six, but they have scored in eight of their last nine away from home and as both teams scored in both league meetings we should see goals at both ends.

It is hard to split these teams and with that in mind this first leg could finish level, so yet another 1-1 draw between these two promotion rivals is the correct score selection.

Diallo scored from the spot when Sunderland met Luton at this ground in the Championship and he was on target in the 3-0 win at Preston in the hosts’ final game of the regular season, so he looks a good contender for an anytime goal.