Sunderland faces Middlesbrough in the Championship this weekend at the Stadium of Light, with the match set for a 12:30 PM kickoff on Saturday and broadcast live on Sky Sports.
After experiencing their first league defeat last time out against Plymouth Argyle (3-2), Sunderland’s Regis Le Bris is eager to get back to winning ways. Despite the loss, Sunderland remains in second place in the Championship, just one point behind West Brom.
Regarding Middlesbrough’s season, Barker described it as “frustrating,” noting their dominance in matches yet difficulty in converting chances. Although they’ve dropped points against two newly promoted teams, he believes there’s no reason for concern. With a league-high expected goals (xG) of 9.6, he’s optimistic that goals will come, especially following the arrival of George Edmundson, which has stabilized their defense. The attacking contributions from Tommy Conway, Ben Doak, and Micah Hamilton have also provided Michael Carrick with more options.
Middlesbrough’s key strength lies in their counter-attacking ability, demonstrated in their 3-0 Carabao Cup victory over Leeds. However, this strength has also contributed to their struggles against teams like Derby and Preston, who tend to sit back. Barker anticipates that Sunderland, playing at home and in good form, will press high, which may benefit Middlesbrough.
On an individual note, while Matt Clarke has been commendable, Aidan Morris, who joined from MLS, has impressed significantly, excelling in the Championship despite an early mistake.
Conversely, Middlesbrough’s biggest weakness has been at left-back, where Carrick’s strategy of pushing defenders high leaves gaps that opponents, like Stoke and Portsmouth, have exploited.
In terms of the match prediction, while Sunderland appears to be in better form, Middlesbrough’s attacking capabilities and counter-attacking style could give them the upper hand. Barker predicts a close match, favoring Middlesbrough 3-2.
