Tranmere vs Sunderland Predictions

• Both Teams to Score has landed in 69% of Tranmere’s home games this season
• Sunderland have kept just one clean sheet away from home this season
• Tranmere have kept just two home clean sheets this season

Can Tranmere bounce back?

The FA Cup has caused many a debate as to the detriment it can cause a team and the effect it can have on a lower league teams season after a clash against an elite side and this could become another example. Tranmere have been struggling this season in League One picking up just 22 points from 25 games, a haul that seems the languishing in 21st place and three points from safety.

Their highlight this season was a dream date with Manchester United in the FA Cup. 3-0 down away at Watford the Super Whites staged an incredible comeback to force a replay of which they triumphed in extra time to set up a dream tie against the Red Devils. With just three days to prepare they got humiliated 6-0 on home turf against Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s men and it will remain to be seen how much that will impact on the players’ confidence going into a crunch set of fixtures as they battle for survival.

Sunderland in play-off form.

Sunderland’s supporters called for both their owner and manager to leave the club following their 0-0 home draw against Bolton Wanderers, a result that saw the Black Cats pick up just two league wins in 10. Usually, such protests spell the end for the manager however on this occasion it seems to have galvanised everyone at the club and a remarkable turnaround in fortunes has followed. Sunderland have since won four of their last six league games with two draws, a run that sees them rank 3rd in the form table.

Goals on the horizon.

Despite Tranmere’s recent struggles in the league, they have got a goalscoring touch at home however this tends to be just the solitary goal on each occasion. They have scored in their last five home league games with all five games seeing them score just the once. Their defence has been the main problem for the Super Whites, they have conceded in 10 of their last 11 home league fixtures with the one clean sheet coming against a poor Wimbledon side.

Sunderland, on the other hand, had found the net in five consecutive games before their 0-0 stalemate against Doncaster Rovers last time out. Those five games previous saw them net on 11 occasions showing they have a newfound potency in front of goal. Sunderland’s defence on the road has been a problem this season, their clean sheet in the last away game against MK Dons brought to an end a run of 12 consecutive away games without a clean sheet and is their first of the season. Although they have improved on the scoring front of late the liabilities at the back is still there and we think both teams to score looks a bet here. On the correct score front, we think the humiliation from Manchester United will take its toll on the hosts and we see Sunderland strolling to victory by a 3-1 scoreline and solidifying their playoff position.