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Our table is beginning to take shape with Jack joining Matthew at the top, but they are still within a correct score of being replaced with Martin and Philip who occupy the current bottom two. Half of our panel gained a single point for a Sunderland win but missed out on three points for predicting that Oxford would score.
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Still only two points that separates top from bottom and our table could very easily turn on its head by 5pm on Saturday. Nobody predicted a defeat for Sunderland last week at Oxford and surely being back at the Stadium of Light we will see the same this week? Let’s find out in this week’s predictions...
Philip Butler predicts...
Scoreline: Sunderland 1 - 1 Peterborough United
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Max Power
Even if last week's prediction didn't come true, I am taking heart from the fact that my hunch that Sunderland would keep a clean sheet at Oxford United was spot on.
However, Lee Burge is likely to come under more pressure to keep the ball out of his net against the league's standout attacking team, and for that reason I've moved on from last week's prediction of a goalless draw and progressed up to a score draw, with Jack Ross' old favourite 1-1 scoreline.
I fancy Lynden Gooch to score, but since I can't be certain he will start, or indeed who will start upfront - I've gone for Max Power as my pick for first goalscorer.
The captain has played in a more advanced role this season and I'll be hoping he can reproduce some of the goalscoring performances he showed when he first came to the club back in 2018.
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Malcolm Dugdale predicts...
Scoreline: Sunderland 2 - 0 Peterborough United
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Chris Maguire
I am hopeful that the team build on the second half at Oxford rather than repeat the performance of the first, and given they are at home a clean sheet is also something I want to see. We arguably would have had one versus Bristol Rovers if not for the avoidable error by Burge.
In my view we need to take this early opportunity to gain points on teams like The Posh, as once they settle their squad is capable of putting in a good run of results. Beating them now while they look unsettled and are regrouping is a chance we won’t get later.
I’d like to see things changed based on the performance at Oxford too. As mentioned by Parkinson it is a long season, and we need to rotate both players and formations to get through it optimally. I’d expect Scowen to start, but he may partner Leadbitter if Power hasn’t recovered from his knock last time out.
I’d like to see Graham and O’Brien be more clinical, or be replaced/at least subbed around the hour mark. Maybe we can introduce Diamond or Neil at home to change our attacking dimensions? Gooch deserves more mins too after a sublime goal.
If we get another win we will continue to gain momentum and confidence, and we all saw what a bit of confidence can do to the team as demonstrated after the opening goal against Oxford.
Same result, but probably a goal from a Maguire set piece. Hope so anyway.
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Matthew Foster predicts...
Scoreline: Sunderland 2 - 1 Peterborough United
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Chris Maguire
It cannot be overstated that beating Oxford and keeping a clean sheet was a huge result for the lads. I had doubts before the game (especially when I saw the line-up), but I was more than happy to be proven wrong come the final whistle.
This weekend presents us with a huge challenge in Peterborough, a side regularly the ‘bridesmaid never the bride’ in their aims of returning to the Championship. Last season, Peterborough were left with a sour taste in their mouth after PPG saw them fall outside the play-off spots leaving them resigned to another season in League One.
They may have lost Ivan Toney in the summer, but the acquisition of proven League One goalscorer Johnson Clarke-Harris bridges that gap, and I reckon Mo Eisa and new signing Sammie Szmodics will also be key players for the Posh this season.
They performed a late turnaround against Fleetwood last time out to win the game which will boost their confidence, especially after two abject results against Cheltenham and Accrington Stanley before that.
But I reckon we will have the bit between our teeth going into this and see us narrowly securing a crucial win, with Maguire getting us off the mark.
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Jack Howe-gingell predicts...
Scoreline: Sunderland 1 - 0 Peterborough United
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Danny Graham
Expecting a game of tight margins, against a promotion hopeful.
Peterborough have had a slow start to their season despite winning last time out against Fleetwood. They came from a goal down to win 2-1, with two stoppage time goals - not something you can rely on every week.
This was preceded by losses to Accrington Stanley in League One and Cheltenham in the League Cup but Peterborough had strong sides out in both, and it is surprising they didn’t win or score in either game.
The loss of Ivan Toney could prove crucial, but they have recruited well as always seems to be the case with the acquisitions of Jonson Clarke-Harris, Sammie Szmodics, Ethan Hamilton and Ryan Broom. This supplements they already talented Siriki Dembele and Mo Eisa.
Despite all this, I’d expect Peterborough to be a major threat but they are coming up against what I believe to be one of the strongest defences in the League - something that we could take advantage of if we can take the lead.
As long as we can keep it tight, we can win this one and it will be a great time for Danny Graham to re-open his account.
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Will Jones predicts...
Scoreline: Sunderland 1 - 1 Peterborough United
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Chris Maguire
This is the one I didn’t want to guess because both teams seem to be so unpredictable, and despite the win and clean sheet last week, I don’t see it as one that sets us apart.
Oxford had a multitude of injuries and we continued the pattern of starting games very slowly before getting into games in the second half. This suggests to me that if and when we come against an attacking threat early on we could be undone with an early goal. This came via a mistake against Bristol Rovers but with the pace Posh possess, they may offer more of a threat.
However, the threat we created in the second half against Oxford and Bristol Rovers was a stark change where we have appeared to get stronger as the game goes on. Maybe it’s tactics or maybe our fitness levels allow us to grow into games and increase the tempo as the opposition is tiring.
I feel the first half will belong to Posh and the second half will belong to us, which in my eyes results in a similar game to the one against Bristol Rovers unfortunately.
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Martin Wanless predicts...
Scoreline: Sunderland 2-0 Peterborough United
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Bailey Wright
Saturday’s game at Oxford was the perfect response to the less-than-ideal outcome against Bristol Rovers, and gives us something to build upon.
To be quite frank, I still have no sort of clue what type of Sunderland side will turn up on Saturday. Will it be the cautious, depressed, long-ball team we’ve seen in the first halves of both league games so far? Or will it be the confident, vibrant, footballing team that played the second half against Oxford?
Hopefully the latter.
Like Oxford, Peterborough are one of the favourites for promotion this season, so a positive result here will really put a mark in the sand as to where our ambitions lie.
I’m hoping – rather than expecting, it has to be said – that Parkinson’s picked up on the fact we looked so much better in the second half last weekend, and allows the team to play like that from the off.
However, I’d imagine we’ll see another cautious first 45 at least – especially given the confidence Peterborough will no doubt have picked up after their final minute comeback last week.
A first half Bailey Wright header from a corner in the first half will separate the sides at the break, with a goal from sub Will Grigg sealing the deal in the final ten. 2-0 Sunderland.