Sunderland v Reading: Can the Royals defeat the Black Cats?
Sunderland and Reading currently occupy two of the bottom three places but the Black Cats could escape with victory tonight, but Martin O'Neill's men have only won at home once this season. Can the Royals drag themselves closer to safety and pile the pressure on O'Neill?
This game should have been played in August but freak weather put paid to that, but it gives both clubs the chance to boost their survival hopes. Sunderland could leap out of the danger zone at the expense of Wigan, while Reading's reward for victory would be to close the gap on Sunderland to a single point.
The visitors have yet to win on the road this season and have lost their past four outings. Sunderland have only picked up one point from their past four games but there are signs of improvements. They scored twice past West Brom and should have left Carrow Road with at least a share of the points. But without Steven Fletcher they look toothless. O'Neill needs to find someone with plenty of goals in them sharpish.
Reading have lost their last two outings 1-0 against fellow strugglers Villa and Southampton. Can they avoid a hat-trick of defeats?
The Royals won the last meeting between the two sides in December 2007 and have won more head-to-heads - seven to Sunderland's six - but can they get the vital three points in the bank tonight? Our pundits don't think so.
Sunderland v Reading; Kick Off 7.45pm December 11 2012
Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Josh Ben Moshe |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Aston Villa |
Frank Pattison |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Chelsea |
Joe Tyler |
0 |
V |
0 |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Liverpool |
Dave Disciascio |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Man United |
Alex Richert |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Newcastle |
Greg Hall |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Norwich |
Sue Read |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
QPR |
John Jaycock |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Reading |
Jon Keen |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Southampton |
Andy Saunders |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Stoke City |
Jack Heaney |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Swansea |
Jim Barry |
3 |
V |
2 |
|
Spurs |
Adam Crawford |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
West Ham |
Matt Beeby |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Wigan |
Jimmy Shine |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
4 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Sarshar Hosseinnia |
4 |
V |
1 |
|
Blackburn fan |
Terry Kennedy |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Bolton fan |
David Blackburn |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Wolves fan |
Chris Cox |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
2 |
V |
1 |
Panel Verdict
Home win.
Home: 20; Draw: 8; Away: 5. TBA 1.
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear from you.
