Sunderland vs Ipswich Town
English League Championship
Date: Saturday, 3rd February 2018
Kick-off at 15:00 UK/ 16:00 CET
Venue: Stadium of Light (Sunderland).
Sunderland Team News, Updates, and Facts
Team News
With Lewis Grabban and James Vaughan departing the club, Joel Asoro and Josh Maja have started up front in recent weeks – the former scoring the winner against Hull – but new loan signing Ashley Fletcher will be pushing for a debut and Kazenga LuaLua could make his first start. Alognside Fletcher, Ovie Ejaria (from Liverpool) and goalkeeper Lee Camp (from Cardiff) could also make their Black Cats debuts on Saturday after signing on transfer deadline day.
Key Players
Joel Asoro has had to take up the mantle with Sunderland seeing Lewis Grabban and James Vaughan depart this month but after a few impressive cameos from the bench, his match-winning first goal for the club has been the perfect start. With question marks over goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter, Lee Camp could prove to be a huge signing, meanwhile.
Team Form
Sunderland have won just one of their five games in 2018 – and scored just two goals in the process too. After drawing blanks in defeats to Barnsley, Middlesbrough in the FA Cup, and Cardiff, Sunderland beat Hull City 1-0 in their most recent home game only to then lose 3-1 at Birmingham City in midweek.
Sunderland Predicted Starting Line-up
Expected Line-up: 5-3-2
Ipswich Town Team News, Updates, and Facts
Team News
Stephen Gleeson made his full Ipswich debut last time out, and is likely to continue in midfield with Cole Skuse struggling for a consistent run of games due to a foot injury. Jordan Spence retuned in that defeat to Wolves, in place of Dominic Iorfa, and it will be a toss-up between the two for Mick McCarthy again on Saturday.
Key Players
Former Sunderland youngster Martyn Waghorn tops the Tractor Boys’ goalscoring charts this season, but it is Joe Garner – who sits one behind Waghorn on nine for the season – who has impressed more recently, with three of Ipswich’s last four goals. Manchester City loanee Bersant Celina has contributed eight, meanwhile.
Team Form
A 1-0 win at home to Leeds United is Ipswich’s only victory in their last eight matches – a run which was extended by a narrow defeat to table-topping Wolves on Saturday. In their most recent away match, in between the win against Leeds and defeat to Wolves, Ipswich drew 1-1 with Bolton Wanderers. Ipswich have scored just four times in their last eight games, with Joe Garner netting three of them.
Ipswich Town Predicted Starting Line-up
Expected Line-up: 3-4-3
Opta stats
Sunderland have won their last seven home matches against Ipswich in all competitions, though this is the first meeting at the Stadium of Light since January 2007.
The Tractor Boys haven't won away at Sunderland since August 1989, a 4-2 victory at Roker Park.
Chris Coleman was victorious over Mick McCarthy the last time they faced, with Coleman's Coventry winning 2-1 in a Championship game against Wolves in February 2009.
McCarthy has never won away from home at Sunderland in the second tier (P5 W0 D1 L4), with one of those defeats a 6-0 defeat in December 1995 as Millwall manager.
Sunderland have won seven points in their last four league games at the Stadium of Light, more than their last 17 home games combined.
Ipswich have won just one of their last eight away Championship outings (D2 L5), failing to win any of their last four (D1 L3).
Head To Head
Wednesday have won 3 of the last 5 meetings overall. They’ve won 4 of the last 5 at Hillsborough.
Sunderland vs Ipswich: Bet Tips
Sunderland DNB at 1.71
Under 2.5 goals at 1.69.
