Today Sunderland will host 18th place Cardiff at The Stadium of Light. It will be the 66th meeting between the two clubs and the first since 2018.
CARDIFF CITY
Things haven’t been great so far this season for The Bluebirds, with manager Steve Morrison getting sacked on the 18th September. It’s been over a month since Morrison’s departure and Cardiff still haven’t appointed an official long-term replacement, with Mark Hudson taking charge for the time being. Cardiff currently sit 18th in the table having only picked up 21 points from 18 games, this means The Bluebirds are only two points above the relegation zone. To add insult to injury, Cardiff have lost four out of their last five games, making the tragic possibility of League One football more and more likely. Mark Hudson’s Bluebirds need to get their act together and fast.
Ex Baggies striker Callum Robinson stands out as their main dangerman, with the Republic of Ireland international scoring two goals and getting three assists this season. Midfielder Callum O’Dowda has also recorded the exact same numbers. Cardiff currently have an average possession stat of 48.4%, so they don’t tend to dominate the ball. They tend to create most of their chances from through balls and direct free kicks, so we should try to limit the amount of set pieces we give away. Mark Hudson tends to play 4-3-3, but sometimes he’ll play 5-3-2.
As a whole I’d say Cardiff are a struggling side with a lot of experience. I think the presence of players like Cedric Kipre and Callum Robinson will be enough to keep them up but they need to start picking up results soon.
SUNDERLAND
It has been a great week so far on Wearside, a point at Kenilworth Road at the weekend was followed up by a 2-0 win at The John Smith’s Stadium. Sunderland’s turn in form followed by the return of Ellis Simms has made this week joyful. Unfortunately French midfielder Edouard Michut has picked up an injury, with Mowbray saying “Michut is going to miss the next two games”. Like many players, Michut will be available again after the World Cup break. Mowbray also said “We weren’t threatening and couldn’t get them off our back and so Simms had to go on and threaten over the top and get in behind and give us a presence to play off."
MY PREDICTION
So I’m predicting Sunderland to win this game 2-1, Cardiff are on a really poor run of form so we need to go for the throat. I think Ellis Simms returning gives us that much needed focal point up front, and you could see the difference he made on Wednesday. I do think we will concede because we can be quite leaky at the back, but we will have enough to get all three points. I think Cardiff will put everyone behind the ball and try to grind out a point, so if we can get the first goal that would kill their gameplan.
MY PREDICTED SUNDERLAND 11 (FORMATION 4-2-3-1)
1 Anthony Patterson, 6 Danny Batth, 26 Bailey Wright, 13 Luke O’Nien, 3 Dennis Cirkin, 4 Corry Evans, 17 Abdoullah Ba, 21 Alex Pritchard, 16 Amad Diallo, 20 Jack Clarke, 9 Ellis Simms
SUBS: 12 Alex Bass, 24 Dan Neil, 32 Trai Hume, 19 Jewison Bennette, 10 Patrick Roberts, 8 Elliot Embleton, 27 Jay Matete
MY PREDICTED CARDIFF 11 (4-3-3)
1 Ryan Allsop, 2 Mahlon Romeo, 38 Perry Ng, 23 Cedric Kipre, 37 Niels Nkounkou, 8 Joe Ralls, 6 Ryan Wintle, 19 Romaine Sawyers, 10 Sheyi Ojo, 47 Callum Robinson, 11 Callum O’Dowda
SUBS: 21 Jak Alnwick, 16 Curtis Nelson, 29 Mark Harris, 25 Jaden Philogene, 35 Andy Rinomhota, 12 Tom Sang, 9 Kion Etete
