Our prediction for this Championship match:
Sunderland
Match Time & Date:
21/09/2024
13:30
Prediction: 1-1
Middlesbrough
Stadium of Light will host Saturday’s football game between Sunderland and Middlesbrough, the two promotion-chasing sides. Sunderland made a flying start to the season, but they head into this match following a 3-2 loss at Plymouth. The Saints aim to keep their 100% record at home intact, but they will have to prove their worth on the field. Both Aji Alese and Jenson Seelt are out of contention with injuries, but there are no suspended players in the home team.
Meanwhile, the Boro aim to extend their unbeaten run to four games. As Middlesbrough and Snderland played out a 1-1 draw in their last meeting in the Championship, yet another share of spoils is on the horizon. All Jonathan Howson, Tom Smith, Marcus Forss, and Alex Bangura are out of contention with injuries for the away team. You should know that under 2.5 goals have been netted in three of the previous four meetings between the two sides.
Highlighted Player (Paddy McNair):
Following in the footsteps of his compatriot Jonny Evans, Paddy McNair joined the Manchester United academy in 2011 and he was surprisingly handed first team debut by Louis van Gaal at the start of the 2014/2015 season.
Despite his fragile age, the talented central defender has been putting in some very mature performances ever since, and everything suggests he could go on to become an important player at Old Trafford in years to come. After representing a number of youth sides, McNair made his first appearance for the Northern Ireland senior national team in a March 2015 friendly vs Scotland, before making another three outings as his side secured their place at the Euro 2016 finals.
Northern Ireland coach Michael O’Neill surprisingly played McNair in holding midfield in the March 2016 friendly vs Wales. After the youngster impressed in the middle of the park, O’Neill went on to suggest that the Manchester United starlet may be used in midfield rather than defence in years to come in the national team.
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.
Brighton
Southampton
Barcelona
Las Palmas 
Crystal Palace
Newcastle 
Borussia Dortmund 
Bayern Munich 
West Ham
Arsenal
Chelsea 
Aston Villa 
