Score Predictions: Can Sunderland Sucker-Punch Stuttering Spurs?

Martin Wanless predicts… Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Spurs 0 Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Chemsdine Talbi After being able to enjoy the derby win for three weeks, it’s back to Premier League action and — to channel my inner Régis Le Bris — this is an interesting challenge. Spurs have been awful recently but another change of manager may well give them the kick they evidently need. From our perspective, the derby win may distract us from some of our recent struggles, particularly in breaking teams down, but with players returning from injury, we’ll hopefully see a better performance than we have recently at the Stadium of Light.

Are the players fully focused on a European charge, or are they more concerned with ticking over until the World Cup? We’ll soon find out. I’m going for a 2-0 win, with Talbi getting another goal.

‘The Champion’ Malc Dugdale predicts… Score prediction: Sunderland 3 Spurs 1 Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Brian Brobbey Spurs really are on the ropes just now and how they handle the pressure of being in the drop zone with a new gaffer will start to be seen today. If we get the first goal, this could be a very long trip back to North London, and given they need to go for a win way more than we do, there’s a chance that there’ll be space for us to exploit on the counter rather than being forced to break a team down. I’m backing the lads to soak up the initial pressure, get the first goal and then get another one or two to close this win out.

I think Spurs may get one — and if they get the first, it could be an interesting challenge — but I think now is too soon for them to start their fightback, and in general, with Roberto De Zerbi coming in at this point, I think it may already be too late for them to get out of the bottom three. Hopefully I’m right. Jack Howe-Gingell predicts… Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Spurs 1 Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Brian Brobbey It’s great to be back!