Sunderland v Watford

Sunderland vs Watford Preview

With Leeds United and Burnley both being involved in FA Cup action over the weekend, Saturday lunchtime's hosts, Sunderland, have a great opportunity to make up some ground on the teams above them in the Championship table when they play host to Watford at the Stadium of Light, especially after beating north-east rivals, Middlesbrough.

Watford slipped to a third league defeat on the trot in the Championship last weekend when The Hornets were dealt a disappointing 1-0 loss at home to Norwich City, leaving the upcoming visitors in 12th place in the English second tier standings and three points adrift of the play-off pack.

Sunderland are currently enjoying a promising spell of form right now in the Championship as the Black Cats have collected four wins from their last six matches overall in the domestic second tier, picking up important wins against the likes of Sheffield United, Portsmouth, Derby County and Middlesbrough, the latter being a 3-2 win at the Riverside Stadium.

The arrival of French manager, Regis Le Bris, has certainly had a steadying effect upon the Sunderland squad as the north-east hosts have been handed just two defeats within their previous 23 games overall in the Championship, both of which were inflicted upon Sunderland away from home.

Losses on the road at Sheffield United and Stoke City have been outweighed by winning three of their last four home games at the Stadium of Light.

Watford meanwhile, have continued their slump in form in the Championship which has resulted in The Hornets dropping down the table to a disappointing 12th place ahead of this tough looking trip up to the north-east to take on an unbeaten Sunderland outfit at home on Saturday.

Recent defeats at the hands of Preston NE, Coventry City and Norwich City respectively have done the damage in recent weeks to Tom Cleverley's side and their play-off ambitions, while the bigger picture shows the visitors have now managed to register just one league win from their last eight attempts.

That rare highlight came in the form of a 2-0 win away from home at Championship strugglers, Derby County, but having also slipped to six defeats within this eight-game sequence, Watford look set to have their work cut out on Saturday lunchtime.

In addition, Watford have been struggling to gain results on the road for some time in the Championship as The Hornets have managed to claim just two victories from their last 14 outings on their travels whilst also being handed no fewer than nine defeats in the process.

Sunderland v Watford Verdict

Sunderland are unbeaten in their last three meetings at home against Watford and having won two of these, the Black Cats look set for further success.

Therefore, our main bet will be Sunderland win @ 1.50

Other side bets worth considering:

Sunderland win & Over 2 goals @ 2.25 (Bet Builder) Correct Score: Sunderland 3-0 @ 10.00