Sunderland vs QPR predictions: Black Cats' woes to continue

- Sunderland have lost their last six matches
- QPR have won three of their last four away games
- Recommended bet: QPR draw no bet

Sunderland have gone from the fringes of the Championship play-off places to mid-table obscurity after a miserable four weeks and will be aiming to snap a six-game losing run when taking on lowly QPR at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats had hoped to push for promotion but they have slipped to 12th and are now closer to the relegation zone (nine points clear) than the top six (11 points adrift).

It is highly likely that Sunderland will be a second-tier side next season, but there is greater uncertainty over QPR, who sit just one point above the bottom three.

However, the Londoners have been much improved in recent weeks, taking 10 points from their last five fixtures.

Team news

Sunderland’s injury crisis deepened during last Saturday’s 4-2 loss at Southampton with defenders Dan Ballard (hamstring) and Jenson Seelt (knee) failing to finish the game.

Seelt has been ruled out for the rest of the season and Ballard seems highly likely to be absent this weekend, although he has been selected for Northern Ireland international duty.

Luke O’Nien completes a two-game ban and Jack Clarke (ankle), Patrick Roberts, Bradley Dack, Dennis Cirkin (all hamstring), Aji Alese (leg), Niall Huggins (knee) and Corry Evans (knee) are ruled out.

QPR’s squad has a much healthier look although 19-year-old attacker Rayan Kolli (leg) is sidelined.

The stats

Sunderland have lost their last six games which is their longest losing sequence since 2006.

The Black Cats have gone 12 matches without keeping a clean sheet.

Sunderland have lost eight Championship home games which is the joint-highest among top-half teams.

QPR have lost just two of their last 10 fixtures.

The Londoners have won three of their last four away games.

Both teams have scored in three of QPR’s last four matches.

Prediction

QPR’s four-game unbeaten run came to an end with last Saturday’s 2-0 loss to home to Middlesbrough, but the Londoners can get their survival quest back on track by defeating out-of-sorts Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Marti Cifuentes’s side have racked up 18 points from their last 10 games which is closer to promotion than relegation form.

They triumphed 2-1 at leaders Leicester on their last road trip and have an excellent chance of beating Sunderland, who are low on confidence and ravaged by injuries.

Sunderland have lacked quality in attack without injured forward Jack Clarke and they have not achieved a shutout since New Year’s Day.

Mike Dodds’s side are struggling in both boxes and they look there for the taking.

Back QPR draw no bet at evens with LiveScore Bet.

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