A 1-0 FA Cup replay defeat at home to Walsall wasn’t part of the script as our seventeen-match unbeaten run came to an end on Tuesday.
What’s done is done, so we may as well look on the bright side and be thankful that the cup exit at least frees up some space in what’s otherwise a pretty hectic fixture schedule.
Next up for the Black Cats it’s relegation-threatened Bristol Rovers, who arrive on Wearside in 21st position on the back of four successive defeats.
Jack Ross is hopeful that the attacking trio of Duncan Watmore, Lynden Gooch & Aiden McGeady will all be available for our first game against The Pirates in 18 years.
And while classifying any game at this stage of the season as 'must-win' is overdoing it, it’s fair to say that anything other than a win against Rovers would be very disappointing.
Our official betting partners Coral have Sunderland odds-on to win the match at 4/6.
With the 2nd best defence (us) up against the 2nd worst attack (them), let’s be confident and go for Sunderland to Win to Nil at 9/5.
Get extra value with Coral’s Acca Boost, where you get a 10% bonus on your winnings up to £100 on winning 4+ team accumulators, paid as a free bet.
Bristol’s defence is actually not bad, joint 8th best overall, although they’ve been leaky recently, conceding 11 in their last four including a 4-0 defeat at home to Doncaster last time out.
We’re 25/1 to inflict another 4-0 drubbing on the visitors on Saturday.
For your own unique bet combining multiple scenarios in the match, tweet your own bet #YourCall @Coral, or choose from the existing #YourCall markets already priced up by Coral.
Example: Josh Maja to score 2+ goals, Sunderland to Win or Draw and Over 3.5 goals @ 12/1.
Last week’s abandoned match at Accrington means we’ve now got two games in hand on most of the division. Win both of those and we’re comfortably in second, just a point behind Portsmouth who lost last week and who we visit next Saturday.
It’s all to play for!
