Our prediction for this Championship match:
Select Car Leasing Stadium will host Wednesday’s Championship game between Reading and Sunderland, the two promotion-chasing sides. The Royals have been performing above expectations in the new season, but they need to keep on making progress if they are to return to the Premier League. A man to watch in the home team will be Lucas Joao, who scored a brace in a 2-1 win over Stoke City, while Mamadou Loum faces race against clock to be fit for the match.
The Black Cats, on the other hand, aim to make amends for a 1-0 loss to Middlesbrough. Sunderland and Reading seem to be evenly matched at the moment, and, taking everything into account, punters from all four corners of the world can find value in betting on draw. Both Ross Stewart and Dan Ballard are injured for the visiting side.
Highlighted Player (Junior Hoilett):
Junior Hoilett began his youth career at Blackburn Rovers and he spent five years at Ewood Park. After ending his loan spells with German sides Paderborn and St. Pauli Junior Hoilett returned to Blackburn Rovers and it has to be noted that he scored his first goal for the Riversiders in a pre-season friendly against Leigh Genesis.
Speaking of competitive games, the Canada international netted his first goal for Blackburn in a 3-1 League Cup victory over Gillingham. In 2012 the pacey winger joined Queens Park Rangers and he played for the capital club from 2012 to 2016. In October 2016 Junior Hoilett signed a deal with Cardiff City and he made his debut for the Championship side on October 14 against Bristol City.
Hoilett was born in Brampton, Ontario and, as a result, he represents Canada on the international stage. He made his Canada debut in a 1-1 draw with Ghana in an international friendly.
Highlighted Team (Sunderland):
Sunderland are a professional football club that have been playing their home games at the Stadium of Light since 1997. The capacity of the stadium is 49,000, but before expansion the original ground capacity was 42,000. Red and White shirts are Sunderland’s trademark and the club’s fiercest rivals are Newcastle United. The two local rivals have been contesting in the Tyne-Wear derby since 1898 and there have always been fireworks in what is one of the greatest derbies in English football. Sunderland were on the verge of dropping to the Championship in the 2015/2016 Premier League campaign, but experienced tactician Sam Allardyce eventually helped the team avoid relegation.
The Black Cats have won six First Division trophies (now the Premier League), with the team lifting two FA Cup titles. Sunderland won their first FA Cup trophy in 1937, with the team beating Preston North End 3-1 in the title game. The club was founded in 1879 as Sunderland and District Teachers A.F.C.