Sunderland vs Luton Town predictions: Black Cats to edge improved Hatters
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- Sunderland's last three games have featured four goals or more and both sides scoring
- Luton have won only once away from home this season
- Recommended bet: Sunderland to win and both teams to score
Sunderland and Luton have contrasting ambitions for the remainder of the Championship season and could play out a thriller on Wednesday.
The Black Cats are bang in the promotion race, but it is a different story for the visitors, who are in the relegation places and carry genuine fears of a second straight relegation.
New Hatters boss Matt Bloomfield is still to win since his appointment last month and, although he has had a rare sustained spell to work with his players on the training ground due them not playing since February 1, his team are expected to come up short at the Stadium of Light.
Team news
Sunderland's Jobe Bellingham missed Saturday's 2-2 draw against Watford with an ankle injury but could be available, while fellow midfielder Alan Browne is expected to be in Regis Le Bris' matchday squad after recovering from a fractured bone in his leg.
For Luton, winger Josh Bowler could make his first start since his loan move from Nottingham Forest and there may also be a place for Norwegian striker Lasse Nordas following his deadline day arrival from Tromso.
The stats
Sunderland are unbeaten at home this season (W9, D6) and have a peculiarly strong record playing on Wednesdays, winning 12 of their last 18 (D2, L4).
They also have the historical edge over Luton, avoiding defeat in the last 10 meetings, including October's reverse fixture, which they won 2-1.
The Hatters have also failed to win any of their last 15 trips to Wearside, with their most recent success coming at Roker Park in September 1973.
Luton's tally of two points since Christmas is the fewest of any side in the Championship, while new boss Bloomfield is still chasing his first victory after four games in charge.
The Bedfordshire outfit have won just once on the road but have netted in their last four Championship away games.
Prediction
A first sustained spell on the training ground after drawing 1-1 at Sheffield Wednesday at the start of the month will have been appreciated by Bloomfield and his staff and, with Plymouth and Portsmouth two of the next three teams to visit Kenilworth Road, Luton have a chance to build some survival momentum.
They were improved in the draw at Hillsborough, but Sunderland have been generally reliable at home and need a victory to keep their promotion push on track after drawing their last two at the Stadium of Light.
Both of those matches finished 2-2 and came either side of a 3-2 win at Middlesbrough, suggesting they are in an entertaining mood.
With promotion rivals Burnley and Sheffield United also playing on Wednesday, it could be a big evening in the push for the top two and the Black Cats can come through whatever test is posed by a potentially improved Town side.
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