Promotion-chasing Sunderland have the home advantage on Saturday when they welcome mid-table Watford to the Stadium of Light for one of the two early kick-offs in the Championship.
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Sunderland vs Watford prediction: Home win expected?
Key stats
- Watford have lost four of their last six matches across all competitions.
- Two of the last three meetings between these two clubs have produced under 2.5 goals.
- Under 2.5 goals have been produced in three of Sunderland's last six matches.
- Three of Watford's last five matches have witnessed fewer than three goals.
Correct score prediction: Sunderland 2-0 Watford
Sunderland have scored at least two goals in each of their last two league games and have managed to keep three clean sheets in their last five outings in the Championship, while Watford have conceded at least two goals in three of their last six fixtures.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Bookies backing the hosts
- HOME: 8/15 (1.53) – 65.2%
- DRAW: 18/5 (4.60) – 21.7%
- AWAY: 27/5 (6.40) – 15.6%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Sunderland are the expected winner of this game with a probability of 65.2% and we agree with the bookmakers on this prediction.
You can find all our predictions for today's games on our football betting tips page.
Most recent H2Hs: Watford in front
Saturday's guests have won two, drawn two and lost one of their last five encounters with Sunderland, claiming a 2-1 victory at home when the pair last met back in September.
England Championship 28/09/24
Watford
Sunderland
England Championship 27/04/24
Watford
Sunderland
England Championship 04/10/23
Sunderland
Watford
England Championship 29/04/23
Sunderland
Watford
England Championship 17/09/22
Watford
Sunderland
Sunderland preview: Edged a five-goal thriller
Sunderland made the relatively short trip to the Riverside Stadium for their last league game.
The home side took the lead early on but Dan Neil equalised in the 33rd minute and the pair went in level at the interval. The Black Cats then took the lead through Wilson Isidor in the 51st minute but Middlesbrough responded with an equalising goal just before the hour mark. The game appeared to be heading for a draw until Ryan Giles put through his own goal to hand Sunderland all three points on a plate in the 87th minute.
Ajibola Alese, Niall Huggins, Romaine Mundle and Alan Browne could all miss the Watford game due to injury.
Predicted lineup: Patterson (GK), Mepham, Cirkin, Hume, O'Nien, Roberts, Le Fee, Neil, Bellingham, Rigg & Isidor
England Championship 13/05/25
L
Coventry
1
Sunderland
0
England Championship 09/05/25
W
Coventry
1
Sunderland
2
England Championship 03/05/25
L
QPR
1
Sunderland
0
England Championship 26/04/25
L
Oxford Utd
2
Sunderland
0
England Championship 21/04/25
L
Blackburn
1
Sunderland
0
Watford preview: Lost Bayo and the game
Watford played host to Norwich in an early kick-off in the Championship last weekend where they were reduced to ten men just after the half-hour mark when top goalscorer Vakoun Bayo was shown a straight red card.
The visitors took full advantage of their extra man advantage when Josh Sargent put the ball into the back of the net shortly before the break, a goal that proved enough to secure all three points.
Along with Bayo who is now suspended, Kwadwo Baah, Pierre Dwomoh and Daniel Bachmann are all expected to miss the trip to the North East through injury.
Predicted lineup: Bond (GK), Larouci, Pollock, Andrews, Abankwah, Sissoko, Chakvetadze, Dele-Bashiru, Louza, Kayembe & Doumbia
England Championship 03/05/25
D
Sheff Wed
1
Watford
1
England Championship 26/04/25
L
Blackburn
2
Watford
1
England Championship 21/04/25
L
Portsmouth
1
Watford
0
England Championship 18/04/25
L
Burnley
2
Watford
1
England Championship 12/04/25
L
West Brom
2
Watford
1
Player to watch: Chris Rigg
Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg broke into the first team at the Stadium of Light last season where he made 21 appearances in the Championship, the majority of which were from the bench.
Rigg, 17, has made himself a regular in the Black Cats' starting lineup this season and his performances have attracted interest from some of the biggest clubs in England.
The Black Cats teenage star has a big future ahead of him
We're backing Rigg, who has chipped in with four league goals this season, to put in another top performance this weekend, one which will help guide Sunderland to all three points on Saturday.