Sunderland v Watford: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Championship promotion hopefuls Sunderland will be aiming to put the pressure on the sides above them in the standings when they welcome Watford to the Stadium of Light on Saturday lunchtime.

The Black Cats head into the weekend sitting fourth but with the top two, Leeds United and Burnley, in FA Cup action, and third-placed Sheffield United not playing until later on Saturday, they could strike a psychological blow in the automatic promotion race.

Watford could prove the ideal opponents for Sunderland as they make the long trip north having seen their own play-off push falter following a run of seven defeats in their last 10 Championship games.

Sunderland v Watford betting tips and predictions

Sunderland to win by one goal - 13/5

Sunderland will head into this game buoyed by Monday night's 3-2 win at near neighbours Middlesbrough, a result that leaves them just three points off the automatic promotion positions.

That success at the Riverside also extended the Black Cats' unbeaten league run to six matches, while they are yet to taste defeat on home soil in the Championship this season, claiming nine wins and five draws from 14 matches at the Stadium of Light.

Regis Le Bris has certainly made his side hard to beat, although Sunderland rarely blow away their opponents, with each of their last seven league wins and nine of their previous 10 coming by just a one-goal margin.

Like Sunderland, Watford made a strong start to the season and were firmly in the play-off mix heading into the festive period.

However, the Hornets have taken just seven points from the last 30 available since losing at Burnley on 21st December and only two teams - Derby County and Luton Town - have collected fewer points across their last 10 games.

That poor run has led to speculation surrounding head coach Tom Cleverley's future at Vicarage Road, but he will take solace from the knowledge that his side has not been blown away in any of their recent league matches.

Of the seven games they have lost across their last 10 in the league, only one has been by more than a one-goal margin - the 3-1 defeat at Queens Park Rangers on New Year's Day.

Watford have lost their last three games, following up 2-1 defeats to Preston North End and Coventry City with a 1-0 home reverse against Norwich City, and they could fall on the wrong side of another narrow setback at the Stadium of Light, a venue they have not won at since 2015.

Wilson Isidor to score at any time - 7/5

Sunderland have shared the goals around this season, with only one member of Le Bris' squad scoring more than four times in the Championship to date, that player being the in-form Wilson Isidor.

Initially joining the Black Cats on a season-long loan from Zenit Saint Petersburg, Isidor's move was made permanent at the start of this month and he celebrated by scoring against Middlesbrough.

That was the Frenchman's 10th league goal of the season and his fourth in six Championship appearances since the turn of the year.

Isidor has also scored in three successive home league games for Sunderland, notching against Sheffield United, Portsmouth and, most recently, Plymouth Argyle.

Having also scored what was his first Sunderland goal in the reverse meeting with Watford at Vicarage Road in September, Isidor feels like a prime candidate to find the back of the net on Saturday.

Edo Kayembe over 1.5 shots - 12/5

Edo Kayembe originally joined Watford in January 2022, but after scoring just five goals in his first two-and-a-half years with the club, he has more than doubled that tally with seven this season alone.

The DR Congo international certainly appears to have added a more attacking thrust to his game, with only centre forward Vakoun Issouf Bayo and creative force Giorgi Chakvetadze managing more shots in a Watford shirt this season than his total of 32.

Kayembe has had two or more shots in three of his last six appearances across all competitions, firing off a pair of efforts in Watford's most recent away match at Coventry and three when they last recorded a win at Derby.

With leading scorer Bayo ruled out of this game through suspension, there will be more emphasis on other Watford players to take up the attacking baton, and Kayembe could do that by having at least two efforts on goal.

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Sunderland v Watford odds

Sunderland - 1/2
Draw - 10/3
Watford - 19/4

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.