Sunderland vs Watford Prediction: Isidor to strike again

After winning a five-goal thriller at Middlesbrough on Monday night, Sunderland will be looking to secure another three points in the Championship when they host Watford at the Stadium of Light on Saturday (12:30, Sky Sports Main Event).

The Hornets head to Wearside on a run of three consecutive defeats in the league, as pressure continues to mount on boss Tom Cleverley - which isn't like Watford at all. Read on for my Sunderland vs Watford prediction, alongside the latest match odds and team news.

Sunderland vs Watford Odds

Sunderland have won four of their last six home games in the second tier, and they are 1/2 to come out on top on Saturday. Better value would be backing them to win and both teams to score, which has struck in three of those victories. This selection is priced at 9/4, which carries an implied probability of 30.8%.

The other two matches in that run ended in stalemates and the draw is available at 7/2. Watford have won just one of their past eight away trips in the Championship, and they are 11/2 to pull off an upset in the North East.

Over 2.5 goals has landed in four of the last six league games at the SOL, which is on offer at 4/5 (55.6%) this time around, which offers excellent value.

Football Odds

Team News

Sunderland acquired Liverpool striker Jayden Danns on loan on deadline day, but he is currently unavailable due to a back issue, so his debut seems like it is going to be pending for a while.

Attackers Romaine Mundle and Tom Watson are nearing returns to action from injuries of their own. Watson had a busy deadline day of his own as he travelled down to Brighton ahead of a prospective £13m move that broke down.

Alan Browne is expected back in the squad for the first time since fracturing his leg in November to provide more depth to the Black Cats' midfield ranks. The former Preston North End man looks likely to have to settle for a place on the bench, though, due to the form of Jobe Bellingham, Dan Neil, Enzo Le Fee and Chris Rigg.

Forward Wilson Isidor has netted 10 goals in the league this term and should continue to lead the line for Regis Le Bris' side, having recently joined the club permanently.

Watford are without the services of Daniel Bachmann, Pierre Dwomoh and Kwadwo Baah due to various injuries, while Vakoun Bayo will start a three-match suspension after getting sent off last weekend against Norwich City.

His ban comes as a big blow to Hornets boss Cleverley as the striker has provided 10 goals in the Championship. This should present an opportunity for Mamadou Doumbia to impress up top, while the visitors will turn to Giorgi Chakvetadze for creativity in the final third.

Recent addition Caleb Wiley will not be fit in time to make his debut against Sunderland, while Rocco Vata's participation is in doubt due to a recent illness. Cleverley confirmed that a late decision would be made on the attacker to travel with the team to SR5.

Sunderland and both teams to score @ 9/4

Sunderland have an excellent chance of gaining promotion back to the Premier League this season following an eight-year hiatus, and after a big victory over local rivals Boro last time out, they will want to continue building momentum so that they can keep applying pressure to the likes of Leeds United, Sheffield United and Burnley.

Eight points separate them from Leeds at the top but they do have a game in hand on them, and Burnley, who are only three points ahead of the Black Cats. Sunderland welcome a Watford side who have struggled on the road throughout the campaign and who head here low on confidence following three losses in a row.

Sunderland boast a better squad and better form than the visitors so a home victory isn't in doubt for me. Although, I do think the Hornets can have an impact on proceedings because BTTS has been a winning selection in four of the past six encounters at the Stadium of Light, so I fancy them to score a consolation goal at the very least.

Wilson Isidor anytime goalscorer @ 13/10

After going what felt like a long time without a recognised centre-forward in their ranks, Sunderland have landed on their feet with Isidor. The fans are delighted that he has been snapped up permanently, which only strengthens the belief that the club can achieve something special this year.

We recently saw Isidor's confidence take a hit with two chances from the penalty spot squandered against Burnley. For a lot of players, this could mentally break them, not this man.

He cruelly had a goal ruled out in the following match against Derby County but he has been on target in the last two fixtures against Plymouth Argyle and Middlesbrough. He's in good form coming into this clash, and he's rightly the favourite to strike anytime.

Offers

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