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The Championship is back and there are three live games taking place on Sunday afternoon. Newcomers Ipswich make the long journey to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland with both sides keen to get their season off to a flying start. This game gets underway at 5pm UK time.
Sunderland
Sunderland will be looking to avenge last season’s play-off defeat and despite the loss of loanee Amad Diallo, they looked well-placed to push for promotion once again. The Black Cats have retained the services of the majority of their key players and their unique scouting network has identified several interesting signings including Jenson Seelt, Nectarious Triantis and Jobe Bellingham.
Match has ended
Despite rumours of his potential departure surfacing towards the end of last season, manager Tony Mowbray remains at the club and is one of the best coaches in the second tier when it comes to developing young players.
Sunderland went unbeaten in their final nine games of the regular season and were only defeated by eventual play-off champions Luton at the semi-final stage. Curiously, they had a slightly better away record last season, and won just 8 of their 24 matches in Wearside.
Only three of their home victories were secured by more than a single goal margin, and although they came out on the right side of many of their matches last year, the majority of their contests at the SOL were tight.
Sunderland remain without talisman Ross Stewart whilst summer signing Eliezer Mayenda won’t be fit enough to start.
Ipswich
Ipswich enjoyed a tremendous season in League One last season. Although they finished second behind Plymouth, the Tractor Boys caught the eye with their stunning performances and ended the season exceptionally strongly.
The Suffolk outfit went unbeaten between January 21st and the end of the campaign and were victorious in 13 of their last 15 outings.
Kieran McKenna is one of the most highly-rated coaches in the EFL and although he was linked with the Leicester vacancy this summer, he declined the opportunity to speak to them and appears to be happy with his role at Portman Road.
Ipswich have made a handful of summer signings with Peterborough’s Jack Taylor arriving alongside the returning George Hirst and Chelsea loanee Omari Hutchinson. Crucially, the Tractor Boys have held onto the majority of their star assets.
Although this is a step up for McKenna’s men, they lost just three times on the road last season and will be looking to surprise a few this time around.
Head to Head
It’s been a couple of years since these two sides last faced one another. The majority of their recent meetings have been tight and there hasn’t been much between them. Only one of their last five meetings has featured three or more goals with Sunderland winning four of their last five.
Ipswich have a poor record against this opposition. Their last victory over the Black Cats was on September 26th 2017.
Key Betting Stats
- Sunderland are unbeaten in their last six against Ipswich
- Ipswich conceded just 35 goals across their 46 matches last season
- Ipswich have won 14 of their last 19 matches
- Sunderland haven’t lost an opening day fixture since 2016/17.
- Five of Sunderland’s six penalties last season were awarded at the Stadium of Light
- BTTS landed in each of Sunderland’s last nine home games
Match Prediction
This fixture is rarely one-sided and although Sunderland have enjoyed the recent dominance, they are unlikely to get things all their own way. Ipswich tend to struggle in this match-up, however, this is a confident, powerful and fearless outfit, who will be confident of taking at least a point.
Winning Combo
Draw and Over 1.5 Goals
Odds – 10/3 with Bet365 Bet Builder
Best Bookmaker
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