Sunderland vs Reading Prediction: Sunderland has been in better form than Reading

Sunderland and Reading will face off in a crucial match on February 11, 2023, at the Stadium of Light in England. This will be the second time the two teams will meet this season, with Sunderland currently sitting in 9th place and Reading in 16th. The outcome of this match could greatly impact their standing in the points table, making it a must-win for both teams.

Sunderland’s Form

Despite their determined performance during the fourth-round replay on Wednesday, Sunderland's journey in the FA Cup came to an end at the hands of a reshuffled Fulham team, with their manager Marco Silva observing from the stands. Despite late goals from Jack Clarke and Jewison Bennette, Fulham's progression to the fifth round was never in jeopardy after Harry Wilson opened the scoring for the visitors in the eighth minute of the game. Tony Mowbray's team will now concentrate solely on Championship matters until the end of the season, hoping to end with a trip to the playoff final at Wembley. Sunderland currently sits ninth in the second-tier standings, two points behind West Bromwich Albion in sixth place, as they gear up for this weekend's fixtures. The departure of Ellis Simms and the season-ending injury to Ross Stewart has put a strain on Sunderland's striker shortage, and it remains to be seen if players like Clarke, Patrick Roberts, and Amad Diallo can help lead the team into the top six.

Sunderland’s possible starting lineup

J. Gelhardt, J. Clarke, A. Diallo, P. Roberts, E. Michut, D. Neil, A. Alese, D. Batth, D. Ballard, T. Hume and A. Patterson

Reading’ Form

This season, Reading is proving to be a thrilling entertainment in the Championship, although their exciting games may not always result in maximum points for the Royals. In their fourth consecutive game in all competitions, Paul Ince's team participated in a four-goal thriller last Saturday, but unfortunately, they did not win for the fourth time in a row. Despite falling behind 2-0 to Watford after 50 minutes at home last weekend, goals from Tom Ince and Jeff Hendrick helped Reading secure a draw. Despite the point, it had little impact on their league standing, as they are currently in 16th place, six points behind their previous playoff position. Ince's main challenge this season is to keep his club in the division, and with a 10-point advantage over 22nd-placed Huddersfield Town, he is succeeding remarkably.

Reading’ predicted lineup

S. Long, T. Ince, J. Hoilett, C. Casadei, J. Hendrick, M. Loum, A. Yiadom, T. McIntyre, T. Holmes, A. S. Mbengue and J. Lumley

Sunderland vs Reading expert tips

Sunderland's League campaign may have been stronger than Reading's, but their recent performance has been lacklustre. However, their opponent, the Royals, is also struggling, which could lead to a Sunderland win. The expected outcome of the match is a over 2.5 goals.