- Sunderland are yet to have a draw at the Stadium of Light this season 
- Plymouth beat Sunderland 2-0 in the first game at Home Park in November 
- Recommended bet: Tie or Plymouth Double Chance

Plymouth will make the longest trip of the season when they travel north to Sunderland, but they will be full of confidence after registering their first away win of the season at Swansea last weekend.

Sunderland are yet to start firing under Michael Beale, though, and they will regard this as the type of match they should be winning if they are to be serious play-off contenders.

Also, at odds of 1/2, there’s an expectation they will deliver with Plymouth 17/4 to prove last weekend’s triumph in South Wales was no one-off.

Team news

Sunderland boss Michael Beale expects centre-back Dan Ballard to be fit after he limped out of the 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough.

Nazarii Rusyn could replace Mason Burstow in the centre-forward’s spot with fit-again Patrick Roberts an option on the right of attack.

Darko Gyabi, Alfie Devine, Adam Forshaw and Lino Sousa, all ineligible for the midweek FA Cup replay with Leeds, could come back in.

Boss Ian Foster is also expecting Mickel Miller and Julio Pleguezuelo to be available after also missing that tie.

The stats

Sunderland are the only team in the Championship without a home draw.

Plymouth’s 1-0 win at Swansea last weekend snapped a 15-game winless streak on their travels.

Pilgrims forward Morgan Whittaker has 17 goals for the season. He has scored in eight of his last 11 starts, while both teams have scored in ten of Argyle’s previous 11 matches.

Prediction

After finally breaking their away duck a week ago and with a far bigger squad to pick from than they had against Leeds on Tuesday night, expect Plymouth to avoid defeat at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland, despite inconsistent form under new boss Beale, are plenty short enough against an Argyle side who are nothing if not competitive and who always pose a goal threat.

Indeed, Foster’s group might be seven places and eight points adrift of the Black Cats in the Championship but they have scored more goals.

It’s been a busy week for Argyle, with two hours of FA Cup action against Leeds preceding this longest trip of the season. But they were competitive against an outstanding Leeds side, though unable to build on last weekend’s excellent 1-0 triumph at Swansea.

The Devon side are on a run of just one 90-minute defeat in their last 12 outings, and that was 2-1 at unbeatable Southampton.

The tie or Plymouth Double Chance is available at a big price, especially when Sunderland continue to blow hot and cold under Beale.

Back Tie or Plymouth Double Chance at 29/20 with LiveScore Bet

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