Sheff Wed vs Sunderland predictions: Owls' miserable start set to continue

Aidan Perkins

Spotlight

Tony Mowbray's Sunderland are fifth in the Championship

- Sheffield Wednesday are bottom and yet to win this season
- Sunderland are fifth with 13 points from first eight games
- Recommended bet: Sunderland to win

Sunderland will be striving to make it five wins from nine in the Championship when they travel to bottom-of-the-table Sheffield Wednesday on Friday.

The Black Cats have made a solid start in the second tier this season, but their three-game winning streak was ended by Cardiff City on Sunday when the Bluebirds came away from the Stadium Of Light with a 1-0 win.

Tony Mowbray's side have won their last two away games, though, and will be confident of securing another three points on the road against a Wednesday outfit who have yet to win in the league this term.

Xisco Munoz's team have struggled to adapt to life in the Championship following promotion via the play-offs and they were resoundingly beaten 3-0 by Swansea City at the weekend.

Team news

Momo Diaby remains out for the Owls with a leg injury, but Mallik Wilks could be back in contention for Friday's clash after recovering from a recent muscle strain.

Sunderland have several players still in the treatment room, with Bradley Dack (hamstring) and Corry Evans (knee) among them.

Dennis Cirkin, Pierre Ekwah, Jay Matete and Aji Alese also all unlikely to be fit for the Black Cats' trip to South Yorkshire, but boss Mowbray could make changes with the likes of Patrick Roberts and Luis Semedo among those pushing for starts.

Xisco Munoz has had a tough start to the season as Sheffield Wednesday boss

The stats

During Wednesday's winless run at the start of the season they have scored just five goals — the lowest in the Championship.

The Owls have only kept one clean sheet so far — in the 0-0 draw at Leeds United at the start of the month.

Before the 1-0 defeat at home to Cardiff, Sunderland had won three on the bounce against Southampton, QPR and Blackburn Rovers, scoring 11 goals in the process.

Sunderland's Jack Clarke is the joint-leading scorer in the division with five goals to his name so far.

The latest Sheffield Wednesday vs Sunderland odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

Sunderland were being talked about as potential automatic promotion candidates after three impressive back-to-back wins in September, but they were brought back down to earth somewhat by Cardiff last time out.

That result should not dent their ambitions this season too much, though, and they have shown enough in their away games so far this season to suggest they can handle a trip to Hillsborough.

The goal-shy Owls turned in a pretty dismal display against Swansea at the weekend and they are the only team in the division yet to win this term.

They have been more competitive at home, losing on three occasions by a single goal and holding Middlesbrough to a 1-1 draw, but they are a side clearly short on confidence right now.

Back Sunderland to win at 13/10 with LiveScore Bet.