Sunderland v Reading: Can the Royals tame the Black Cats?
Reading almost beat the champions of Europe in midweek. This weekend they travel to Sunderland looking to record their first win of the season. Standing in their way though is a Sunderland side that surprised many last weekend by keeping Arsenal at bay. But can either Sunderland or Reading claim their first league win of the season this weekend?
Sunderland start the game as favourites and as hosts you'd expect that. Martin O'Neill's team will be well drilled, full of energy and hard to break down. But Reading are no slouches either. Brain McDermott's men are full of heart and determination, and with the likes of Guthrie, Pogrebnyak and Le Fondre, the Royals will always cause the opposition problems.
This will be only the 18th meeting between the two sides in history and Reading have the edge, winning seven to Sunderland's six. The last time these two met was in the 2007/08 season when the home side came out on top 2-1 on each occasion.
The Royals may have the edge in head-to-head meetings, but the majority of our pundits believe Sunderland will level that up this weekend.
Sunderland v Reading; Kick Off 3pm August 25 2012Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Shub Chaterjee |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Aston Villa |
Frank Pattison |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Chelsea |
Joe Tyler |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Liverpool |
Dave Disciascio |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Man United |
Alex Richert |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Newcastle |
Greg Hall |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Norwich |
Sue Read |
2 |
V |
3 |
|
QPR |
John Jaycock |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Reading |
Jon Keen |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Southampton |
Andy Saunders |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Stoke City |
Jack Heaney |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Swansea |
Jim Barry |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Spurs |
Mike Richards |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
West Ham |
Matt Beeby |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Wigan |
Jimmy Shine |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Sarshar Hossiennia |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Blackburn fan |
Terry Kennedy |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Bolton fan |
David Blackburn |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Wolves fan |
Chris Cox |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
2 |
V |
1 |
Panel Verdict
The Black Cats are tipped to clinch all three points.
Home: 27; Draw: 4; Away: 2. TBA 1
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear from you.
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