Roker Report Score Predictions: Gillingham v Sunderland

Not much change to our table after the draw at Rochdale. Only Phil picked up a point for the draw and Martin was the only one from our panel who thought Charlie Wyke would continue his goalscoring streak.

Will our panel back Phil Parkinson’s side to get back to winning ways?! Let’s find out in this round of predictions...

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Philip Butler predicts...

Score Prediction: Gillingham 0 - 1 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Charlie Wyke

Well, Sunderland have been hopeless in the last couple of games, and I was very tempted to go against Phil Parkinson’s side this weekend.

However, that was until I saw that Gillingham have lost their last four matches, so I’ll go for a dull, boring scrappy 1-0 win for The Lads. A result which won’t put the Cowley’s or Ryan Lowe any closer to the Sunderland job (if only), but will be a vital three points to get us back on track.

As for goalscorers, we don’t have many of them, but Charlie Wyke has scored a few recently so aye, him.

Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images

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Malcolm Dugdale predicts...

Score Prediction: Gillingham 0 - 2 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Charlie Wyke

How things change in a week! Two pretty dismal results and one point from six, straight after a good set of results, if not performances, we really really need to brush ourselves down and get back to winning ways.

I expect Wyke will retain his starting berth, and who could really argue when he has got himself into a scoring run. Despite his all round performances needing more, he is doing his job when others aren’t, so fair enough.

It sounds like more changes could be on the cards with fitness concerns for O’Nien and Willis, but that should be no excuse for poor results and substandard performances. We did well in the five game run without key people in a well executed shape so it shouldn’t be an excuse when it suits.

I’m getting like a stuck record, but we very much need to vary our starting XI and our bench to begin a new run, and to make our opponents less able to prepare to counter Phil’s approach. I want to see the turgid offerings turfed out and a real breath of fresh air with Diamond, Kimpioka, Neil and even Grigg deserving a good run out.

I’ve already decided to not watch the Gills game, as I’m fed up paying 20 quid a week for mediocrity and disappointment, so my challenge to the lads is crank it back up and I’ll get back on the stream. It’s bad enough watching my lifetime club at this level, watching them be poor just isn’t on.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Getty Images

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Matthew Foster predicts...

Score Prediction: Gillingham 0 - 2 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Charlie Wyke

Just one short week ago, I spoke of the fear of us “doing a Sunderland” in my prediction for the Pompey game, whilst also mentioning the calls for Parky’s head having quietened down, well, what a difference a week makes!

It just goes to show how quickly things can turn on their head, and if we don’t put those poor results behind us quickly, the mood around the club will become ever more sour.

Twitter has already seen the ‘Parkinson Out’ tweets surge in numbers, and whilst I’m by no means suggesting it’s unjustified, it is not something I can see becoming reality any time soon.

Up next is Gillingham, who after going four unbeaten, have lost four on the bounce without scoring. They also have a bit on an injury crisis, with manager Steve Evans stating he’s never had it as bad.

For the more hardened Sunderland fan, those facts would suggest only one conclusion on Saturday.

And whilst it may be sheer blind faith, or the couple of beers in me talking, I’m backing us to get back to winning ways.

Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images

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Jack Howe-Gingell predicts...

Score Prediction: Gillingham 1 - 2 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Charlie Wyke

Another game, another disappointing result.

I thought Parkinson had got us solid at the back but that all seems to have evaporated over the last two games. Five goals shipped, and only a point to show for it. Not good enough for automatic promotion, and you get the feeling playoffs will the height of our powers once again.

Gillingham sit 16th in the table after an unspectacular start and have shipped a fair amount of goals, with thirteen against them. Jordan Graham stands out as the danger man, being their most regular goal scorer.

All in all, much like the Rochdale game, we should be dispatching them with a minimum of fuss. However, based upon Tuesday’s game, if you can catch us out (or we put it on a plate) then we will struggle to win. Our weakness up top is wreaking havoc again, with us seemingly unable to score more than two goals in a game.

I’ve gone for Wyke first goal scorer, as he seems to be the only person who can at the moment so I’m sure that will go against me come the full time whistle.

We should win this one, but I don’t fancy us to do anything out of the ordinary.

Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images

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Will Jones predicts...

Score Prediction: Gillingham 0 - 3 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Lynden Gooch

We need a kick up the arse. Quick.

This time last week we were unbeaten and thinking of a run that could last as long as we keep clean sheets - 1-0 victories galore.

In seven days we have played two conceded five, which were on the whole a result of our own mistakes, and scored three. Hopefully this week the players have shouted and screamed and have learnt to play progressive football with the emphasis on getting the ball forward.

We are playing an out of form Gillingham side who are also desperate for a win after a good start. We need to go there and show why we are considered favourites. We are looking for someone to blame and the truth is that we haven’t shown a killer touch. No matter how many #ParkyOuts we tweet, it was the same under Ross, we need someone to set us aside and show we have a killer instinct and some composure up top.

I fully believe we have a squad capable of winning this division, and we need to play with a full performance. Not just scoring, not just defending. A full performance to get everyone from the squad to the fans up for the next game.

I do not, at all, want to go back to that dark place where nobody looks forward to the weekend because it means watching woeful, unproductive football like we were this time last year.

Get a win. And make it convincing. We need to show people why they should be scared of the mighty SAFC once again. HAWAY THE LADS.

Photo by Visionhaus

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Martin Wanless predicts...

Score Prediction: Gillingham 1 - 1 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Danny Graham

The last couple of performances have really dented my confidence in the team’s ability to get the results that are going to be needed to get us up this season, and I think the next couple of games are critical for Phil Parkinson and the team.

Gillingham haven’t been in the best of form this season, but are always a tough proposition at Priestfield, and Steve Evans’s teams are generally horrible to play against.

I expect Charlie Wyke to - rightly - start the game, but I am backing his 67th minute replacement, Danny Graham to bag an equaliser in a hard fought game. Hopefully I’m wrong, and we cruise to a 4-0 victory, but I’m going for a 1-1 draw.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images