Sunderland host Bristol City in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.
Sunderland return to the scene of Easter Monday’s crimes where Blackburn Rovers won 5-1 in the Championship.
It was Sunderland’s biggest Easter Monday defeat in 65 years and it made for a very deject Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats now sit in 13th compared to the Robins in 12th as we enter the final six games of the 2023/24 season.
Bristol City under Liam Manning have won three of their last four, and both their last two games; they beat Leicester City 1-0 on Good Friday and then Plymouth Argyle 1-0 on the Monday.
Sunderland vs Bristol City H2H
Last time Sunderland and Bristol City met earlier this season, the Robins won 1-0 at Ashton Gate.
And last time the two teams met on Wearside, it ended in a 1-1 draw, with Jack Clarke on the scoresheet that afternoon.
In Sunderland’s club history, they’ve beaten Bristol City 16 times, drawn 15 times, and lost 18 times.
The Black Cats though haven’t beaten Bristol City on home turf since 1994, with two draws and one Bristol City win at the Stadium of Light since then; during the 2017/18 season in the Championship.
David Prutton score prediction for Sunderland vs Bristol City
Giving his weekly score predictions on the Official EFL Podcast this week, Sky Sports pundit David Prutton gave his prediction for the game between Sunderland and Bristol City.
He said:
“Bristol City to win. 0-1”
Fellow Sky Sports pundit Simeon Gholam predicted a 3-1 win for Sunderland.
A win for Mike Dodds‘ misfiring side could see them leapfrog Bristol City this weekend.
The Black Cats have won just one of seven games under their interim boss, with one win in their last nine and seven defeats.
Mike Dodds needs immediate reaction after Blackburn Rovers
Dodds was visibly frustrated after the Blackburn defeat, and so he should’ve been.
Sunderland were dire that day and during a time when the fans are already growing discontent with the ownership and running of the club, that manner of defeat was certainly not needed.
What’s needed now is a reaction.
Sunderland remain a team with some quality players and maybe the returning Clarke could fire the Black Cats to a win against Bristol City.
And a few wins to end the season would set them up nicely for the summer.
Sunderland still have a manager to appoint and players to attract in the transfer market, but going into the summer in poor form won’t help either of those things.
Kick off vs Bristol City is at 3pm on Saturday.