Sunderland vs Portsmouth Prediction: Jobe to bell one in at Stadium of Light

EFL Championship title contenders Sunderland host strugglers Portsmouth at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon (15:00, Sky Sports Football) looking to maintain their unbeaten record on Wearside this season.

Below is my Sunderland vs Portsmouth prediction, complete with all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Dan Ballard, Chris Rigg, Alan Browne, Salis Abdul Samed, Ahmed Abdullahi, Romaine Mundle, Ian Poveda and Tommy Watson are all out injured for Sunderland, whose head coach Regis Le Bris could hand a recall to Dennis Cirkin at left-back.

Football Odds

Portsmouth are missing several players themselves for the trip up north, notably Kusini Yengi, Regan Poole and Conor Shaughnessy, while it remains to be seen if Jacob Farrell is passed fit following a 16-game absence.

Sunderland vs Portsmouth Odds

Sunderland have won three of their last four home games by a 2-1 scoreline and are 1/2 to take all three points on Sunday, giving the hosts an implied probability of 66.7, and 7/1 to record a victory by the same scoreline. Portsmouth, meanwhile, have won just once on their travels this term, at Queens Park Rangers (1-2) on October 19, and are 6/1, or a 14.3% chance, to claim victory.

The draw is priced at 7/2, both teams to score at 5/6, and over 2.5 total goals at 8/11.

Match Result & Both Teams to Score - Sunderland & Yes @ 11/5

Portsmouth have failed to score in four of their last seven away games and lost heavily twice on their December travels, suffering a 4-0 defeat at Derby County and a 3-0 loss at Bristol City; however, John Mousinho's side should be buoyed by the recent defensive record of their hosts, who have gone eight matches without a clean sheet.

The Black Cats are one of two Championship teams with an unbeaten home record and I see no reason why that won't remain intact after this weekend with only three clubs picking up fewer points than Pompey (seven) on the road this term, but I can see the visitors grabbing a goal to at least offer some consolation on their long trip back down south.

Pompey put four past Swansea City on New Year's Day and although that 4-0 victory came at Fratton Park, goals anywhere breed confidence, particularly when you know you're up against a side that has been shipping them recently.

Both teams to score has landed in 57 per cent of Pompey's league games this season which puts them fifth in the Championship BTTS table while Sunderland are only slightly lower down on 52 per cent.

Ultimately, I fully expect Sunderland to claim all three points as they continue their pursuit of the top positions.

Anytime Goalscorer - Jobe Bellingham (SUN) @ 2/1

Jobe Bellingham continues to make a name for himself in this Sunderland side, churning out some hugely impressive performances in the middle of midfield. Goals don't define him given his all-action nature but he did net in back-to-back games against Swansea City and Norwich City last month to take his season tally to four.

The 19-year-old struck seven times in the 2023/24 campaign and looks well placed to match, if not beat, that total this year.

Bellingham hasn't scored in the last three games but has tried his luck in all three appearances including against Sheffield United on New Year's Day.

The Birmingham City Academy graduate is rarely substituted and that marks him out as an attractive player in the anytime goalscorer market, so at 2/1, I'm backing the teenager to grab a fifth goal of the season on Sunday.

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