Sunderland welcome QPR to the Stadium of Light in a stand-out Sky Bet Championship clash.
Victory could take Sunderland top of the table until Sunday afternoon, whereas QPR can leapfrog their North-East hosts with a win.
Team News
Sunderland have no fresh injury concerns to report as Ellis Simms and Ross Stewart feature amongst several regulars looking for a start, having been rested in the Black Cats’ midweek Carabao Cup exit at Sheffield Wednesday.
Niall Huggins (heel) remains absent.
QPR will be without Chris Willock after he missed Tuesday’s Carabao Cup exit at Charlton due to the club opting to manage his fitness, following his recent return from a hamstring injury.
Jake Clarke-Salter (hamstring), Taylor Richards (thigh), George Thomas (knock), Kenneth Paal and Luke Amos (both unspecified) are ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Sunderland are unbeaten in five of six previous Championship meetings against QPR (W3, D2, L1).
- QPR are winless in three Championship visits to Sunderland (D2, L1).
- Both teams have scored in five of six previous Championship meetings, except for a 1-0 home win for QPR in March 2018.
- Alex Pritchard has assisted in two of Sunderland’s four league goals this season.
- Only four QPR players have played all 180 minutes of the Hoops’ two league games this season – Seny Dieng, Rob Dickie, Osman Kakay, Kenneth Paal and Sam Field.
Prediction
Having made wholesale changes in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup exit at Hillsborough, it will be interesting to see how Sunderland get on in terms of momentum now that competition for places will be tougher until January.
Manager, Alex Neil though should be eager to see his team tighten up defensively after conceding three goals in their opening two matches, although the Mackems did incredibly well to show their fighting spirit to come from behind to win at Bristol City last weekend.
QPR meanwhile were simply ruthless in the first-half of their eventual win over Middlesbrough last weekend but too made changes in a disappointing midweek display, but I expect them to bounce back if can get on the front foot early.
Michael Beale’s Hoops though haven’t won away in three visits to Sunderland since the second-tier was renamed to ‘Championship’, although they should have the better quality in this match but Sunderland will be a tough team to beat if they continue to impress.
Prediction: Sunderland 1-1 QPR
Result: Sunderland 2-2 QPR