Sunderland vs West Brom Prediction: Black Cats can bounce back

Sunderland sacked Tony Mowbray on Monday and will be hoping for an immediate response when taking on West Brom at the Stadium of Light. 

The Black Cats have gone three games without a victory, while fifth-placed Albion are hoping to recover from last Saturday’s 2-1 loss at home to Leicester City. 

Match Odds 

Sunderland are the favourites for this fixture at 6/5 to secure maximum points. The draw is priced at 21/10 and West Brom can be backed at 2/1 to achieve their tenth league win of the season. 

Both teams to score is available at 8/11, while over 2.5 goals is quoted more generously at 10/11. 

Four of Sunderland’s eight Championship wins have been 3-1 victories and the same scoreline in favour of the Wearsiders is quoted at 16/1. 

Team News 

Sunderland midfielder Jobe Bellingham is pushing for a recall, but Nazariy Rusyn (groin), Dennis Cirkin (hamstring), Timothee Pembele, Corry Evans, Jay Matete (all knee) and Aji Alese (unknown injury) are ruled out. 

West Brom defender Kyle Bartley (hamstring) has returned to training but Jed Wallace (shoulder) is still sidelined. Matt Phillips (hamstring) faces a lengthy lay-off and Okay Yokuslu serves a one-match ban after totting up five yellow cards. 

Sunderland to win @ 6/5 

Sunderland took the surprise decision to sack Tony Mowbray after last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Millwall and there should be a positive response from the Black Cats, who look solid favourites to defeat West Brom on Wearside. 

Mike Dodds has been placed in interim charge of Sunderland’s first-team affairs and has inherited a talented, youthful group who have been placed inside the top half for the last three months. 

Sunderland’s owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus wants even faster progress although a push for the playoffs may only be possible with the acquisition of a proven centre-forward during the January window. 

A lack of clinical finishing has been a problem for Sunderland, who are second on the average shot count (16.6) and joint-tenth with regards to goals scored (29). 

However, the Wearsiders have won five of their last eight home league games and they can overcome fifth-placed Albion, who have long standing issues on their travels. 

Albion have taken just 19 points from their last 19 road trips and are set to fall short this weekend. 

Jack Clarke to score anytime @ 2/1 

Mowbray’s departure will have been a tough moment for Sunderland attacker Jack Clarke, who credits the 60-year-old with giving him the necessary confidence and belief to start realising his huge potential. 

Clarke broke into the Leeds first team as a teenager before making a big-money move to Tottenham in 2019. However, he failed to make a single Premier League appearance for the Londoners and his stay with the club came to an end in the summer of 2022 with a permanent switch to Wearside. 

The 23-year-old has excelled in Sunderland colours and has been the Black Cats’ outstanding player this season with ten goals and one assist. 

Classy Clarke was on target from the penalty spot in last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Millwall and he looks a tempting target  to bag against the Baggies.