Sunderland vs Luton Prediction: Isidor back on the scoresheet

Sunderland are still keeping up the pace in the race for automatic promotion from the Championship. The Black Cats are five points behind Sheffield United in second and they will hope to reduce that deficit when they welcome Luton Town to the Stadium of Light on Wednesday (19:45, Sky Sports+).

Luton have had 10 days' rest since their 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday, but they have still only won one away match this season in the second tier. Read on for my Sunderland vs Luton predictions, accompanied by the latest match odds and team news.

Sunderland vs Luton Odds

Sunderland are one of two Championship sides yet to lose at home this season, and nine of their 15 fixtures here have ended with victory. They are 4/6 (which has an implied probability of 60%) to come out on top on Wednesday, so this price is bang on the money.

The Black Cats have drawn their last two games on Tyneside, which can be backed at 13/5.

Luton have won once on their travels this campaign and have lost 11 of their previous 12 trips in the second tier. They are 9/2 to collect the three points.

Over 2.5 goals has been a successful bet in three of the Hatters' past four contests away from home in the league, and it is priced at 11/10 here.

Football Odds

Team News

January signing Jayden Danns is having to wait to make his Sunderland debut as he is recovering from a back problem. Wingers Romaine Mundle and Tom Watson are still unavailable, but it is hoped that both will be able to make comebacks in the coming weeks.

Aji Alese, Niall Huggins and Jenson Seelt are the other players in the hosts' treatment room.

Jobe Bellingham was absent in Saturday's draw with Watford, but it is believed the midfielder will be declared fit to feature on Wednesday. Alan Browne is in contention to play after a three-month absence, which provides boss Regis Le Bris with some much-needed depth for this stage of the season.

If Bellingham recovers in time, he should return to partner Dan Neil in the engine room, while Chris Rigg, Enzo Le Fee and Patrick Roberts play further forward in support of Wilson Isidor up top.

Luton travel to the North East with injury troubles of their own. Shandon Baptiste, Tahith Chong, Reece Burke and Teden Mengi are all set to miss out due to various issues.

Head coach Matt Bloomfield has been quick to integrate his January signings into the team, particularly Thelo Aasgaard, who joined from Wigan Athletic. Josh Bowler arrived on deadline day from Nottingham Forest, and he will be pushing for his first start for the Hatters - as will Norwegian striker Lasse Nordas.

Sunderland and both teams to score @ 3/1

After being held to draws by two of the worst away-performing sides in the division in Plymouth Argyle and Watford, promotion-chasing Sunderland will feel that they cannot afford another stalemate against another team who are poor on the road.

Luton have lost 11 of their last 12 away clashes in the second tier and have tasted victory just once on their travels. The Hatters are in a position many did not foresee coming into the season, and they find themselves facing the threat of relegation to League 1.

They are two points adrift of safety currently, and they need to start improving their points return away from home if they are to avoid the drop. I just don't see that happening at Sunderland, however.

The Black Cats are yet to taste defeat at the Stadium of Light in the league, and they have more than enough quality to add to Luton's woes on Wednesday evening. After two home draws in a row, Le Bris and his players know they need more victories in SR5 if they are to keep up the pace in the battle for the second automatic promotion spot.

I think BTTS is worth adding to a Sunderland win, though, as six of the past seven league encounters here have produced goals at both ends.

Wilson Isidor anytime goalscorer @ 13/8

Sunderland fans were delighted to see the club turn this man's loan into a permanent transfer in January, and the forward has been having a great season for the Black Cats, showing them what they had been missing in a recognised centre-forward.

Isidor has bagged 10 goals in the Championship in 28 appearances, and he comes into this clash with two in his last three. His scoring streak ended against Watford but he did provide an assist, so he is very much at the centre of Sunderland's attacking threat.

I'm backing him to get back amongst the goals against Luton, though, to help his side to an important three points on home turf.

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