Sunderland v Ipswich Town
Sky Bet League One
Stadium of Light
Kick-Off: 7.00pm - Tuesday 3rd November, 2020
Match Coverage
TV/Stream: Full live match coverage available via www.safc.com
Radio: Full live match commentary available via BBC Newcastle (not online)
Don’t forget to follow the blow-by-blow account of the game on the Roker Report Twitter feed (@RokerReport) and check out the player ratings after the full-time whistle at www.RokerReport.com!
After losing to Portsmouth in our previous home game, Phil Parkinson’s side face another huge test at the Stadium of Light against high-flying Ipswich Town. A win could really see Sunderland cement their place among the leading pack as they would move within a point of The Tractor Boys with a game in hand.
Paul Lambert however will be looking at going clear at the top of the table as they currently sit 2nd in League One on goal difference, level on points with Peterborough United and Lincoln City. After a blistering start to the season, Ipswich stumbled in October losing back-to-back games away from home to Lincoln City and Doncaster Rovers, before getting back on track with two home victories.
Sunderland have played three of the current top five, and although Hull City was in League Cup, they are so far undefeated against those teams above them and will be targeting, at the very minimum, to keep that record up this week.
Sunderland Team News
It’s a tough one for Phil Parkinson - does he change a winning side? The performance might have been lacking, but we came away from Gillingham with all three points.
Power may come back into the side and given another chance as Sunderland didn’t appear any more threatening going forward without his presence. Jordan Willis may have recovered enough from his knee injury to return to line-up and Chris Maguire will also be expecting a place in the starting XI.
It’s another roll of the dice when trying to predict what Phil Parkinson does next...
Possible XI: Lee Burge, Conor McLaughlin, Bailey Wright, Tom Flanagan; Luke O’Nien, Grant Leadbitter, Max Power (c), Denver Hume; Lynden Gooch, Chris Maguire, Charlie Wyke
Ipswich Town Team News
Paul Lambert’s side have returned to form with two victories in four days at home to Crewe Alexandra and Gillingham by a single goal.
With almost a full squad to choose from, it’s unlikely to contain too many surprises from the previous two games that have yielded six points for Ipswich.
Possible XI: Holy, Chambers, Woolfenden, McGuinness, Ward, Bishop, Lankester, Dozzell, Edwards, Hawkins, Sears
Last Time We Met... at the Stadium of Light
Saturday 8th February 2020: Sky Bet League One
Sunderland 1 - 0 Ipswich Town (Maguire 81’)
Sunderland: J. McLaughlin, Willis, Wright, Flanagan, O’Nien, Dobson, Power, Hume (Lafferty), Gooch (C. McLaughlin), Maguire, Wyke Substitutes not used: Burge, Oturk, Scowen, Watmore, Semenyo
Ipswich Town: Holy, Donacien (Earl), Kenlock, Chambers, Wilson, Woolfenden, Nolan (Huws), Skuse, Keane, Norwood (Jackson), Downes Substitutes not used: Norris, Dozzell, Judge, Sears
Attendance: 32,726
Match Betting
Despite a defeat last time out at the Stadium of Light the bookmakers still think Sunderland are favourites at 19/20 and have Ipswich on offer at 29/10 with a draw priced at 12/5.
For a correct score, a 1-0 victory for Sunderland is the favourite at 11/2 and a victory by the same result for Ipswich is on offer at 10/1. If, like me, you fancy it might be a score draw - a 1-1 draw is priced at 5/1 and 2-2 at 14/1.
Charlie Wyke is favourite to open the scoring for Sunderland once again and is available at 7/2, closely followed by Chris Maguire at 4/1 and Danny Graham at 9/2.
Match Prediction
After the Portsmouth game my confidence is a little bit shot in terms of facing sides who might have a game plan and put us under pressure on the ball. Ipswich have started well this season and I think two of the stronger sides in the Division may cancel each other out.
Sunderland 1 - 1 Ipswich Town