Roker Report Score Predictions: How will Sunderland fare at Portman Road?

Maximum points for Malcolm by successfully predicting Sunderland would win via a Charlie Wyke goal, sees him leap to the top of the table to join Jack who in turn held on to his position with a solitary point for the home win. Matthew also had a good round by going for the Lads to win through a single goal.

Only Philip and Martin failed to pick up points with their predictions of a draw, which leaves Martin six points adrift at the foot of our table. Let’s find out what our panel go for in this round of predictions...

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Philip Butler predicts...

Score Prediction: Ipswich Town 0 - 2 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Aiden McGeady

Sunderland just keep making it more and more difficult to predict a scoreline. A 1-0 win last time out was slightly surprising considering it seemed to be either a draw or a comfortable win for Lee Johnson’s team in the games leading up to the Shrewsbury fixture.

However, Ipswich are in a period of crisis which has been on-and-off for most of Paul Lambert’s time as manager and Sunderland have been much better away from the Stadium of Light.

For that reason I’m backing The Lads to get a two-nil win, with the usual one-goal lead doubled on the break as the game nears it’s conclusion. As for goalscorers, Charlie Wyke is due a poor game after scoring on Saturday but Aiden McGeady is the penalty taker which always makes him a decent option.

Photo by Mark Fletcher/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

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Malcolm Dugdale predicts...

Score Prediction: Ipswich Town 0 - 2 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Charlie Wyke

This one is a hard one to call. On one hand we have the best form in all four divisions (I believe) when it comes to away games, so this should be a walk in the park given that and how the Tractor Boys are fairing of late, winning one and losing three in their last four at Portman Road.

On the other hand, since Mansfield in the cup in early November we have an uncanny knack of being the team that others get a good result against, whilst turning the fom book upside down. MK Dons, Burton, Wigan and Wimbledon all came to our gaff and left with something when the odds suggested they wouldn’t, but this isn’t at the SOL so maybe that isn’t key for this fixture.

In our recent run of away games we have done well; scoring nine goals in four games away from Wearside in all comps, and we have to be hopeful that the lads’ display will be more akin to the Lincoln performance than the Northampton one. Although Wyke scored the winning goal against Shrewsbury he also missed a relative sitter, but I am again backing Charlie “Marmite” Wyke to net first.

The first half against Shrewsbury set a standard that we need to maintain. We’re also becoming increasingly reliant on Wyke’s goals and this is going to be crucial if we’re to get a good run going.

Photo by Mark Fletcher/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

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Matthew Foster predicts...

Score Prediction: Ipswich Town 1 - 1 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Charlie Wyke

As has been the case on many occasions this season, we bagged three points, without blowing away the opposition, but the most important fact is it leaves us a single point behind sixth place Charlton with two games in hand. The play-off’s are still within touching distance.

Tonight’s opponents Ipswich looked like strong contenders for promotion at the beginning of the season. However, as was the case last year, their form has dipped, and they have been unable to find any consistency.

They’ve lost two out of three games since returning from their COVID postponements, and there appears to be some unrest amongst fans with Lambert at the helm. It goes without saying, but this is a crucial game for both sides. Both are vying to achieve at least a play-off place, and three points could go a long way to doing so.

I’ve been in two minds to how this will shape up. On one hand we have our solid away record and Ipswich’s stuttering form, and on the other is our own inconsistencies, which has been the source of great frustration to us panelists! But I’m going for Ipswich getting their first home draw, against the 1-1 specialists.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Jack Howe-Gingell predicts...

Score Prediction: Ipswich Town 0 - 1 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Charlie Wyke

Well we looked good for about half an hour! Our last time out against Shrewsbury showed we can play some decent stuff, but our old enemy putting teams to the sword came back to haunt us. I’m not shocked to see the xG ratings with Sunderland having the highest creation, but the lowest conversion, even just looking at the Shrewsbury game.

Ipswich will provide a different test, and are much like ourselves - wishing to be promotion contenders but not showing enough form to live up to it. The home side’s fans are sick of Paul Lambert at this point, some going as far to say they hope they lose on Tuesday night, if it means the end of his reign.

They have bolstered their ranks with supposed Sunderland target Luke Thomas on loan from Barnsley, and Josh Harrop on loan from Preston, though the latter will miss out due to a positive COVID-19 test. Harrop may well have been a threat, particularly in a side missing James Norwood and Kayden Jackson, so this is welcome news.

Ipswich’s form has been inconsistent, and they have lost every other game of their previous six, most recently succumbing to Peterborough. Gwion Edwards has been their main threat with 5 goals and few assists, so we will need to watch carefully. Ipswich seem a side playing below their potential, so we will need to be wary regardless, though they have found goals hard to come by and you have to fancy our superior defensive record.

I hope we can take advantage of Ipswich’s indifference and push towards getting back into the playoff places. I fancy a tight win for us again, and with 6 in his last 6, hopefully Charlie Wyke will answer the call.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Will Jones predicts...

Score Prediction: Ipswich Town 1 - 1 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Charlie Wyke

Following the drab end to the game at the weekend, I can’t help but feel the team look fatigued, we don’t seem to have enough working bodies In the midfield and from time to time lose themselves on the pitch.

However, tonight we go up against the Sunderland of Sunderland’s. A team that detest their manager, have not beaten a team in the top seven this season and just cannot pick up consistent points.

We need to go on a run, Shrewsbury will either be seen as a start of a great streak toward cementing a position in the top six or another false dawn that we have all come to know.

I believe right now, it’s the latter, with all the knocks we are taking there does not seem to be enough in the tank right now. I feel this could be another lead bottled, I just don’t see a complete 90 minute performance from this side right now.

Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

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Martin Wanless predicts...

Score Prediction: Ipswich Town 0 - 3 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Charlie Wyke

This prediction game is impossible this season, we’re just so unpredictable and absolutely nothing you can hang your hat on! Wyke’s lovely goal on Saturday gave us a relatively deserved win, but the performance once again left a lot to be desired.

We head to East Anglia for a game against an Ipswich side that’s struggling badly. This usually spells a certain defeat for Sunderland, and to be honest I wouldn’t be surprised if that did happen – we all know our record of backing up victories.

However, our troubles this season have come at home – our away record is strong and the logical part of my brain thinks we should have more than enough to beat the Tractor Boys. Let’s hope so.

Photo by Mark Fletcher/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images