Score Predictions: Are we backing Sunderland to finally get the win?

Last Time Out...

Nobody predicted the second-half collapse after the first-half performance and only Matthew and Phil picked up a point gaining ground on leader Jack.

Let’s find out if our panel back us today as we review this round of predictions...

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Philip Butler Predicts...

Score Prediction: Sunderland 1-1 Blackpool

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Jack Diamond

I’ll not drag this out as though I’ve just made some sort of well-thought-out prediction. I haven’t a clue how we’ll play, who will start, or how up for it we will be for what is essentially a dead rubber game.

What I do know is that we love a one-one draw and that Jack Diamond has looked lively in his last few performances, so we’ll go with that.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Malcolm Dugdale Predicts...

Score Prediction: Sunderland 3-1 Blackpool

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Charlie Wyke

If we hadn’t given away a daft own goal and a daft free-kick, this would have been the score on Saturday, but we did, so it wasn’t.

I am backing Chaz to carry on his scoring now he added to it over the weekend, though as he has had a few in recent games it would be so Wyke-ish to now go on a drought for a few, especially when I pick him. Hopefully, I don’t curse the lad.

The score and scorers for me could not be less relevant; we need a win and we need to learn from the remaining games to give ourselves a chance of knowing who and what formation of players to roll out in the playoffs.

We have to optimise our chances of going one step further than we did last time. On our day, or what seems to be in any random half a game or so, we are better than everyone in this division, so we need to find a way to do that for at least 70-80 minutes, write it down for the gaffer, and repeat it till we win at Wembley for the second time this season.

As that annoying meerkat says, “Simples”.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Matthew Foster Predicts...

Score Prediction: Sunderland 1-1 Blackpool

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Aiden McGeady

I don’t think anybody saw that result coming when Charlie Wyke fired in his second goal, but such is the form we’re in now, we can’t seem to buy a win for love nor money. The automatic promotion places are likely to be set in stone by close of play tonight, with Peterborough potentially only needing a point to secure their place.

We now need to solidify our playoff place, as if we lose and results go against us, we could find ourselves perilously close to dropping out altogether. It was fine margins against Blackpool ten days ago, and since then, the Seasiders have narrowly lost to both Rochdale and Shrewsbury.

I’m desperate for us to pull ourselves out the mire and at least finish the season on a high, but even with Blackpool losing those two on the bounce, I sense a cagey affair where both sides cancel each other out.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Jack Howe-Gingell Predicts...

Score Prediction: Sunderland 2-1 Blackpool

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Aiden McGeady

After another disappointing defensive collapse against Accrington, who knows whether Jekyll or Hyde will show up for this one. If recent games are anything to go by, we’ll likely get a bit of both.

Blackpool, for all the talk of them being in form, were desperately poor in our last game against them, and it took a comedy of errors from Bailey Wright and Lee Burge to cost us.

Weirdly, I don’t really doubt us to get a goal or two but the defence is incredibly leaky. I feel a brave manager would try out Oli Younger and either take out O’Nien and use him elsewhere; or take out a clearly unfit Wright.

Younger may well still be needed due to our injury crisis and we may as well use these last few games to get him bedded in.

Hopefully, we can get a win and boost our confidence. The chips are certainly down but we will end up in the playoffs and we need to get some kind of form together, otherwise, embarrassment looms.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Will Jones Predicts...

Score Prediction: Sunderland 3-1 Blackpool

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Charlie Wyke

Wyke can score. We can’t keep a lead. That’s been us for what seems the whole time down in League One.

I feel like this isn’t just any other game, but one that is a playoff preview. We could well have to replicate this game in three weeks' time or at Wembley. These are the best sides in the play-off currently and both will want another upper hand.

We are playing, on average, better than two weeks ago, but I feel another notch will be risen, maybe a few youngsters in but this is a must-not-lose for us and after back-to-back defeats for the Tangerines, I believe we can make it three. They may be faltering with all their games, and now is the time to start our run and show what we can do.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Martin Wanless Predicts...

Score Prediction: Sunderland 2-0 Blackpool

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Denver Hume

We’ve got to start winning sometime, and why not tonight?

I’m hoping Johnson shakes it up a bit tonight – Younger sat out yesterday’s under 23 fixture so it’s likely he’s in the reckoning at least, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him come into a back three.

That would make sense to me – it would allow Wright to play in what I feel is his best position, takes a little pressure off O’Nien, and would allow Gooch and Hume license to bomb forward from wing-back.

So, on the basis Johnson takes my advice, I’m going for a clean sheet, and a rare goal from Hume to open the scoring. (I think we should get more points for outlandish suggestions like this, I have to say). 2-0, and the bandwagon revs up once more.