- Sunderland have won four of their first five Championship matches this season
- Middlesbrough have kept only one clean sheet in their last six away league fixtures 
- Recommended bet: Sunderland to win

Middlesbrough enjoyed a memorable victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light last season, easing to a 4-0 win after the hosts were reduced to 10 men just before half-time.

The north-east rivals shared a 1-1 draw in the return fixture at the Riverside Stadium but Sunderland should be full of confidence after winning four of their first five games in 2024-25.

Boro, who have finished seventh, fourth and eighth in the past three Championship campaigns, have had a less convincing start although they won 2-0 at Cardiff in their last away fixture.

Team news

Sunderland centre-back Dan Ballard is a major doubt after suffering a foot injury in last weekend's defeat at Plymouth.

Fellow defenders Aji Alese and Jenson Seelt are sidelined so Chris Mepham could make his debut. New striker Ahmed Abdullahi is recovering from surgery and Ian Poveda and Salis Abdul Samed will be assessed. 

Middlesbrough forward Marcus Forss is back in training but unlikely to feature on Saturday. The visitors also have doubts over Rav van den Berg and Jonny Howson.

The stats

Sunderland have won four of their first five Championship matches this season.

One or both teams have failed to score in the Black Cats' last seven home league matches.

Sunderland have scored the first goal in all five league games this term.

Middlesbrough have not been leading at half-time in any of their last six league and cup games.

Boro have kept only one clean sheet in their last six Championship away fixtures.

All eight goals in the last three meetings between these clubs came in the second half.

Prediction

Form is often said to go out of the window in derby matches but that may not apply to Sunderland's Championship clash with Middlesbrough this weekend.

The Black Cats won their first four matches of the season including a 4-0 rout of Sheffield Wednesday at the Stadium of Light and a 3-1 win at Portsmouth.

Their progress was halted by last weekend's 3-2 defeat at Plymouth, where they led 1-0 until the 54th minute and conceded the decisive goal three minutes into injury-time.

But back on home turf Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris should be confident of banking three points against a Middlesbrough side who have struggled for consistency this term.

Michael Carrick's men lost 5-0 at home to Stoke in the Carabao Cup before a 2-0 win at Cardiff and a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Preston, who scored with their only shot on target.

Boro will need to sharpen up their finishing if they are to be among the promotion contenders and they should be opposed against their in-form north-east rivals.

Back Sunderland to win, available at 13/10 with LiveScore Bet.

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