Sunderland vs Newcastle predictions: Chaos expected at the Stadium of Light
- Sunderland are unbeaten in three in the Championship
- Newcastle have lost four in a row, conceding nine goals in the process
- Recommended bet: Back Over 3.5 goals
Sunderland will look to pile on the misery and extend their unbeaten record against rivals Newcastle when the two teams meet in the first Tyne-Wear derby for almost eight years on Saturday.
With the two teams playing in different divisions, it is the FA Cup third round that has brought them together, and this tie should grab most of the headlines on Saturday.
Sunderland have adjusted to Michael Beale's methods relatively quickly and are unbeaten in three, but the Magpies are struggling under Eddie Howe, losing four in a row in all competitions.
Team news
Sunderland winger Patrick Roberts sat out the recent win over Preston with a calf injury and is a "big doubt" for this clash, while Bradley Dack and Dennis Cirkin are both sidelined.
Niall Huggins, Corry Evans and Jay Matete are also in the treatment room for the Black Cats.
Newcastle boss Howe is without the suspended Sandro Tonali, while Callum Wilson is also set to miss the contest due to a calf problem. Kieran Trippier missed the 4-2 defeat to Liverpool with a groin injury, but he may be able to return in time for the trip to the Stadium of Light.
Nick Pope, Joe Willock, Jacob Murphy, Elliot Anderson, Harvey Barnes, Matt Targett and Javi Manquillo are all out, while Martin Dubravka is expected to be rested, allowing Loris Karius to start in goal.
The stats
Newcastle's recent defeat to Liverpool was alarming as they conceded 7.25 XG to the Reds and could have conceded double the number of goals that they did at Anfield.
Howe's team are a shadow of the one that secured a Champions League spot last season, but injuries have certainly played their part. The Magpies have lost nine league games already — they lost only five last season.
Sunderland have won three of their last four at home, scoring five goals in the process, and that should bode well for them, with Newcastle conceding three or more in three of their previous five on their travels.
Prediction
The formbook normally goes out of the window in derby matches, but we have to consider it for this tie between two arch-rivals.
Sunderland have home advantage and are under less pressure, and they have also avoided defeat in the previous nine meetings between the pair, so they will be desperate to improve that record.
Newcastle are vulnerable at the back, but their squad trumps Sunderland's in all departments. A game of this magnitude could bring the best out of both teams, and this could be a cracker in one of the early kick-offs on Saturday.
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