Sunderland vs Plymouth predictions: Goals expected at Stadium of Light
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- Sunderland are fourth in the Championship, five points off the top
- Plymouth are rooted to the bottom of the table
- Recommended bet: Both teams to score
Two teams battling at different ends of the Championship table meet at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon, when promotion-chasing Sunderland host rock-bottom Plymouth.
The Black Cats, along with Leeds, Sheffield United and Burnley appear to be the four sides that will be battling it out for the top two positions, with five points the gap from fourth-placed Sunderland to the Whites in first.
Up next for Regis Le Bris' side is the visit of rock-bottom Argyle, who were thumped 5-0 at home to Burnley on Wednesday evening to leave them six points from safety.
Team news
Sunderland are without Niall Huggins, Aji Alese, Tom Watson, Romaine Mundle and Alan Browne due to injury, while Ian Poveda is also expected to miss out again with a muscle strain.
Plymouth are missing number one goalkeeper Conor Hazard, who is not set to return until early February, while Joe Edwards, Muhamed Tijani and Kornel Szucs are also on the sidelines.
Brendan Galloway is out for the season after picking up an injury in the 1-1 draw against Oxford earlier this month.
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The stats
Sunderland are unbeaten at home in the Championship this season, winning nine and drawing four of their 13 matches.
Only Leeds (35) and Sheffield United (32) have collected more points at home than the Black Cats (31).
Plymouth are on a 14-game run without a win in the league, having last tasted success at home to Portsmouth at the start of November.
The Pilgrims are the only team in the division yet to win on the road, collecting a league-low three away points in total.
Plymouth have the worst defensive record in the Championship, conceding 60 goals.
Prediction
Sunderland should have more than enough to get the win over struggling Plymouth at the Stadium of Light, a venue the hosts have not lost at in the league all season.
But, while a victory is expected, it may not come with a clean sheet given the fact that the Black Cats have recorded just one shutout from their last six home matches in all competitions.
Plymouth boss Miron Muslic will be demanding a response from his side after Wednesday's 5-0 loss to Burnley, who scored all five goals in the first half at Home Park.
The new manager will have most likely read the riot act to his squad and it would be a surprise if there was not some improvement from his side, especially in the final third.
While the Pilgrims need to tighten up at the back, they also need to be more productive in attack and they will have a go at Sunderland, who have not been rock-solid in defence at home.
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