Derby County vs Sunderland Prediction: Black Cats to outsmart goal-shy Rams

There is lots of Championship action on Tuesday with eight games from England's second tier on what promises to be another evening of twists and turns in one of the most competitive environments in domestic football.

Sunderland are in the race for automatic promotion, one of four clubs stretching clear at the top, while Derby County are just a point outside of the relegation places as two points separate six clubs in the basement. Read on for my Derby County vs Sunderland prediction, aided by the latest match odds and team news.

Team News

Derby boss Paul Warne will once more have doubts over central defender Nat Phillips. He went off in the FA Cup defeat at Leyton Orient and missed Saturday's loss here against Watford.

A hamstring problem continues to rule teenager David Ozoh out while midfielder Ryan Nyambe is back in training but hasn't featured since October and may be ready for a place on the bench at best.

Football Odds

The Black Cats' experienced defender Chris Mepham limped off in Friday's scoreless draw at fellow promotion rivals Burnley and may miss this game, with Dan Ballard likely to get the nod to deputise.

Romaine Mundle and Ian Poveda remain on the sidelines for boss Regis Le Bris.

Derby County vs Sunderland Odds

Sunderland are favourites at 11/10 to collect all three points on this trip to the Midlands, giving the visitors an implied win probability of 47.6%, while the Rams are 9/4, or a 30.8% chance, for a vital home success after back-to-back losses at Pride Park against Leeds and Watford. The draw is priced at 21/10.

Derby have not scored in those losses here and both teams to score is a 10/11 chance, while over 2.5 goals is odds-against at 6/5.

Sunderland to Win @ 11/10

Sunderland are fourth in the Championship table after a stalemate with third-placed Burnley at Turf Moor. They could have leapfrogged the Clarets and certainly should have, but the visiting side missed two penalties late in the game.

They are just five points behind pacesetters Leeds and plenty more twists are in store.

Just one win in their last six on the road is not automatic promotion form but Sunderland will be encouraged by having scored an average of 1.56 goals in their nine Championship away games against bottom-half teams.

With the Rams failing to find the net in their last two home games and losing five on the trot in all competitions (a penalty shootout in the FA Cup), this is a good chance for the visitors to land a sixth league win on the road.

Bet Builder - Wilson Isidor Anytime Goalscorer & Over 9.5 Corners @ 7/2

Wilson Isidor was the villain of the piece for Sunderland on Friday, twice seeing Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford deny him from 12 yards.

Isidor, who is the Black Cats leading scorer with eight Championship goals this season, took it on the chin and went on his social media to confirm it was the 'worst day of my life' before vowing: "I promise you that I will come back stronger from this!"

He gets his chance now and will be desperate to get amongst the goals. Before his Turf Moor troubles, the 24-year-old had scored three goals in four starts since Christmas and he can bounce back.

Derby's defeats here against Leeds and Watford saw 11 and 12 corners respectively. There were nine in Sunderland's game on Friday but previous to that their three league games had featured 10, 14 and 16 and this contest should get into double figures.

Offers

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