Last time out...

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Current standings...

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How the points are awarded...

Just a quick reminder on how we allocate points to our match-by-match predictions:

• Correct score = 3 points
• Correct outcome (but not correct score) = 1 point
• Correct first Sunderland goalscorer = 1 point
• Possible deductions for being lazy and not submitting = to be decided

We also have our League One predictions here that went out on the site before the season began. We’ll keep an eye on these as we go along because, at the end of the season, this will come back into play when each correctly placed side adds five points to that person’s tally.

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This week’s predictions...

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Explain yourself...

Phil Butler says...

Crewe 1-2 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Ross Stewart

Sunderland are in a stage of needing to grind out results, with a large number of injuries in attacking areas, combined with Elliot Embleton’s suspension meaning we’re likely to see at least one youngster in the starting line up.

I do think we still have enough to grind out a win against one of the league’s poorer sides, and with so many attacking players missing, the presence of a dependable centre forward such as Ross Stewart could make all the difference.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Malcolm Dugdale says...

Crewe 0-2 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Dan Neil

Crewe have struggled to do anything other than draw or lose of late, with a win a month ago at home to Burton and a cup win against Wigan their only victories.

I can see us out playing them and winning comfortably, but am going for a conservative 2-0 away win given the close timing between Crewe and Gillingham and the fact that we will have to rotate even more given the card for Embo and the need to protect players from over playing. Hopefully some of the Cup Kids can step up and show their value again, and we can head home with all the spoils.

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Matthew Foster says...

Crewe 0-1 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Ross Stewart

I know it is only early days, but if we’re to achieve promotion this season, we need to be beating the teams struggling at the bottom.

We face a Crewe side tonight who have mustered only one victory all season in the league, with only Doncaster below them in the table and Callum McFadzean in their squad (say no more).

Given our current injury list and with Embleton suspended, I don’t think it will be quite as comfortable as the form table would suggest.

However, I do see us picking up the win, coming courtesy of a Ross Stewart header to bag our second successive win on the road.

Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images

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Jack Howe-Gingell says...

Crewe 1-3 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Ross Stewart

I’m delighted we banished the Portsmouth abomination with a tough win over a grotty Gillingham side.

Crewe have been pretty poor this season but still have creditable draws with Rotherham and Plymouth, so wariness is still encouraged. Mikael Mandron is their top scorer and biggest threat - he is one of the best aerial players in the league and must be watched.

We should approach this game with confidence and I expect us to take control, bringing 3 points back to Wearside.

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Will Jones says...

Crewe 0-2 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Ross Stewart

Annoyingly the squad is slowly thinning out and Lee Johnson will be starting to worry we will end up with us light on the ground similar to the end of last season.

I believe we’ll see a semi rotated squad on Tuesday, with nobody returning and Embo suspended (and maybe Cirkin being rested).

Luckily we are playing a Crewe side very out of sorts and I believe this should be an early goal and push for a second kind of game. We need to get an early lead before they sit with 11 behind the ball.

Photo by Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images

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Martin Wanless says...

Crewe 0-3 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Ross Stewart

After Saturday’s hard-fought win over Gillingham, we face another away day at Crewe. There’s an awful lot of travel in a short space of time, and combined with the injuries we have stacking up it could be a ‘potential banana skin’ as they say.

On paper, Crewe should be better opponents for us than Gillingham were: they play football, and should allow us a bit more time on the ball than Saturday’s opponents.

That said, it’s another stern test, and one I fancy us to pass. And pass well.

I’d like to see Ross Stewart get the opener – he had a quiet game by his standards on Saturday, and it’d be good to see him return to the scoresheet.

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Chris Wynn says...

Crewe 0-2 Sunderland

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Ross Stewart

Crewe haven’t been in the best of form this season, and this is a game we simply have to win. Despite the number of players we have out, I’m going for a routine 2-0 away win, with Ross Stewart scoring the opener.

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