Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Championship match.
For much of the winter, these clubs held neighbouring positions in the standings—fourth and fifth, respectively. However, Blackburn Rovers have since slipped down the standings and now face the reality of fading play-off hopes. That said, they might still pose a genuine threat to the current Sunderland squad.
Sunderland
Sunderland are no longer in contention for anything significant; fourth place is effectively secured. As a result, they have begun to rotate more frequently, with key players occasionally rested. This has had a noticeable effect on their results. Across their last three fixtures, played over an 11-day period, Sunderland have picked up just one point and found the net only once. Even in the four relatively successful matches before that, they never scored more than once per game.
Blackburn Rovers
With three rounds left, Blackburn Rovers sit in 10th place, seven points adrift of sixth-placed Coventry City. Only a miracle would see them sneak into the play-offs now. The team left it too late to mount a serious push, with a costly seven-match winless stretch earlier in the campaign. That said, a return of seven points from their last three outings has seen Blackburn climb from 12th place. They’ve also rediscovered their attacking edge, scoring seven goals in their last 270 minutes of play.
Sunderland vs Blackburn Rovers Prediction
Despite their recent dip, none of Sunderland’s last 12 matches have featured more than three goals. We’re leaning towards Blackburn Rovers here—they still have a slim chance at the top six and carry some positive momentum into this fixture.
