Sunderland vs Blackburn predictions: Defences could dominate at Stadium of Light
- Sunderland have failed to score in five of their last nine home games in all competitions
- Six of Blackburn's last seven league matches featured under 2.5 goals
- Recommended bet: Under 2.5 Goals
Sunderland's interim manager Mike Dodds celebrated his first Championship victory on Friday as the Black Caps won 2-0 at Cardiff.
An early penalty from Adil Aouchiche and a 27th-minute Jobe Bellingham goal proved enough to end Sunderland's rotten run of form as they had taken just one point from their previous seven league matches.
Monday's visitors Blackburn are also short of confidence after a 10-match winless run in all competitions and Rovers start this round of fixtures just three points clear of the relegation zone.
Team news
Sunderland's Corry Evans is closing in on a return to action after a long-term knee injury.
Leo Hjelde and Romaine Mundle could return to the starting line-up but Dennis Cirkin, Niall Huggins, Nazarii Rusyn, Jenson Seelt and top goalscorer Jack Clarke remain sidelined.
Blackburn centre-back Kyle McFadzean serves the final game of a three-match ban and John Fleck, Harry Leonard and Arnor Sigurdsson are injured.
Dominic Hyam and Scott Wharton should start in central defence but John Buckley and Sam Gallagher face fitness tests.
The stats
Sunderland have lost six of their last eight Championship matches
The Black Cats have failed to score in five of their last nine home games in all competitions
Three of Sunderland's last five defeats were by a 1-0 scoreline
Six of Blackburn's last seven league matches featured under 2.5 goals
Rovers have drawn six of their last eight Championship fixtures
Three of Blackburn's last six matches ended 1-1
Prediction
Sunderland's win at Cardiff on Friday was a much-needed morale boost but it is hard to see the Black Cats turning on the style at home to a dogged Blackburn side.
The hosts have failed to score in their last two games at the Stadium of Light, a 1-0 defeat to Leicester and a 0-0 draw with QPR, and under 2.5 goals looks a solid bet on Monday.
Sunderland also suffered recent 1-0 defeats away to Norwich and relegation-threatened Huddersfield while Blackburn's last two results were a goalless stalemate at Middlesbrough and a 1-0 home defeat to leaders Ipswich.
The goals have dried up for Rovers recently and six of their last seven games have ended with under 2.5 goals, dating back to February's 0-0 draw at Cardiff.
They have been decent defensively, however, restricting free-scoring Ipswich to just three shots on target on Friday, so they have little to fear from an out-of-form Sunderland side.
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