Watford vs Sunderland Prediction & Betting Tips - Championship

Prediction published on 26/09/2024, 10:00  by Matthew Newman in Championship Predictions

Championship action on Saturday as eighth-place Watford hosts second-place Sunderland. The Hornets have picked up seven points out of a possible nine on their own turf while the Black Cats have six from nine when they have been on their travels. This looks like a potentially Close match with both teams will be looking to strengthen their promotion hopes. Our prediction looks over this excellent contest.

Watford kicked off the season with five straight wins in all competitions, losing three and drawing one of their four games since. Those three losses have all come on the road, most recently on Tuesday night at Manchester City in the League Cup, losing 1-2.

Wins over Stoke (3-0) and Plymouth (2-0) at Vicarage Road are not the strongest of form, drawing Coventry 1-1 most recently. All three of those clubs are in the bottom third of the division. You can only beat the teams put in front of you but it has been a soft enough start to their home campaign.

Sunderland has won at Cardiff and Portsmouth, losing at Plymouth in stoppage time. In a similar vein to Watford, those have not been games that are strong form, Portsmouth are 23rd and Cardiff bottom of the league.

They kept a clean sheet at Cardiff but so have both the other two teams to play there this season, conceding four in their other two combined. Two seasons back, both this game and the reverse fixture finished 2-2 and a score draw might be a solid play here.