Sunderland v Ipswich

Sunderland vs Ipswich Town Preview

Sunderland are another side who will need to dust themselves down and re-set following last season's Championship play-off semi-final defeat to Luton Town when they entertain the league's newcomers, Ipswich Town, at the Stadium of Light on Sunday evening.

After recording a 2-1 home win in the 1st leg of that play-off against Luton Town, Sunderland almost had one foot already in the play-off final, only to suffer a 2-0 defeat in the 2nd leg at Kenilworth Road which put paid to any dreams of a return to the big time.

The bigger picture though shows that manager Tony Mowbray has lifted the Black Cats into potential serious contention for another top six finish this season and that loss to Luton in the return leg was their only defeat in their final 11 games of the previous campaign.

Five wins within this period saw Sunderland pick up wins against Cardiff City, Birmingham City, West Brom, Preston NE and indeed, Luton Town, while goals have also returned as six of these 11 games also resulted in Over 2.5 goals, while six of Sunderland's last 10 home games have also produced three goals or more.

Ipswich Town pipped Sheffield Wednesday into the runners-up spot behind last season's League One title winners, Plymouth Argyle, thanks to avoiding defeat on the final day of the season which saw the Tractor Boys earn a point in a 2-2 draw away from home at Fleetwood Town.

Ipswich certainly deserved automatic promotion from the English third tier as they finished the campaign in strong and solid fashion, putting together an impressive 17-match unbeaten sequence which included no fewer than 13 victories along the way, so very few people would have begrudged Ipswich Town a return to the Championship after an absence of four seasons.

The first priority for Kieran McKenna's side though will be to consolidate their Championship status this season and the ability to pick up points on the road in this upcoming campaign in the second tier will be hugely important to Ipswich's survival first of all, and then to perhaps challenge for a top half finish.

Last season, Ipswich Town showed they are more than capable of scoring goals on the road and this has contributed to seven of Ipswich Town's last 10 away games in all competitions resulting in Over 2.5 goals, which also included scoring two goals or more in seven of these 10 away days.

Sunderland v Ipswich Town Verdict

Both Sunderland and Ipswich Town will be eager to make a positive start to this new Championship season and an entertaining game could therefore unfold at the Stadium of Light especially as goals have returned for both clubs in recent matches.

Therefore, our main bet will be Over 2.5 goals @ 1.90

Other side bets worth considering:

Ipswich Town win @ 2.70

Correct score: Ipswich Town 3-2 @ 29.00