2024-25 Sky Bet Championship: Week Two – Sunday

Sunderland host Sheffield Wednesday in a Championship clash at Stadium of Light.

Victory would see Sunderland climb into the top three, whilst Sheffield Wednesday can go second with a win.

 

Team News

Ian Poveda is unlikely to be available for Sunderland as he continues to build up his match fitness.

Dan Ballard, Niall Huggins, Jenson Seelt are all still sidelined with knee injuries.

Sheffield Wednesday have no fresh injury concerns after their Carabao Cup win at Hull in midweek.

Ben Hamer (hand), Nathaniel Chalobah and Akin Famewo (both unspecified) remain sidelined.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Sunderland host Sheffield Wednesday at Stadium of Light on Sunday 18 August at 12pm BST, live on Sky Sports Football in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Sunderland have avoided defeat in five of their last eight regular-season league meetings against Sheffield Wednesday (W4, D1, L3).
• Sheffield Wednesday have won just two of their last 12 regular-season league trips to Sunderland (W2, D3, L7).
• All five goals across both fixtures last season were scored in the first half, albeit with the team playing away winning with a clean sheet.
• Sunderland have scored one goal in their last six competitive matches at home (D2, L4).
• Josh Windass has scored in Wednesday’s last four league matches (W4).

 

Prediction

After a pair of contrasting 2-0 away results in the league and Carabao Cup respectively, Sunderland will now need to show the clinical quality which they showed at Cardiff last weekend because this certainly won’t be an easy game on current form.

Sheffield Wednesday meanwhile absolutely demolished Plymouth then showed grit to battle past Hull in the Carabao Cup in midweek, so I do expect them to roll up and look to build on those displays at a venue where they won comfortably in May.

The Black Cats though should be at full-strength here but if Danny Rohl’s Owls can play with their recent quality, I can see them enjoying another victory on Wearside.

Prediction: Sunderland 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday

Result: Sunderland 4-0 Sheffield Wednesday