David Prutton predicts Championship showdown in West Brom v Sunderland for Sky Sports
David Prutton believes West Brom will be comprehensively beaten by Sunderland in their first Championship game back after the World Cup break.
Carlos Corberan’s side will look to climb the Championship table over the festive period, with their fixture against Sunderland (Monday 12 September) one of five games before the New Year.
Three consecutive wins against Blackpool, QPR, and Stoke City – which were matched with clean sheets – have instilled new-found confidence at the Hawthorns, and seen them rise out of the relegation zone.
Making his weekly Championship predictions, Sky Sports pundit Prutton believes Corberan faces an uphill struggle as his side travel to the Stadium of Light.
He said: “This season has always been about consolidation for Sunderland, so for them to be in 10th at this stage is terrific. And it was a great win over Millwall last week.
“We know what Carlos Corberan is capable of from what we saw at Huddersfield and it looks like West Brom look like they may have turned a corner before the break. But it could have halted their momentum a little and Sunderland have had a bit of a headstart.”
Baggies favourites
Although Sunderland may hold the advantage in terms of league position – sitting 10th compared to West Brom’s 21st – the new manager bounce is in full flow in the west midlands right now, and I don’t expect it to be halted.
Since Steve Bruce’s sacking, Corberan has dramatically reversed the Baggies’ fortunes, and their victory against Michael Beale’s high-flying QPR certainly makes for good reading.
With Daryl Dike finally returning from injury and likely to be paired alongside Brandon Thomas-Asante in the starting XI, The Black Cats will be fearful of giving the duo an inch of space all night long.
The pair are both proven goalscorers and, if unleashed together by Corberan could prove the game-changers to the Baggies.
Considering the extra quality that West Brom possesses, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see the away side claim all three points and continue their rise up an extremely packed Championship table.
In other West Brom news, Carlton Palmer believes West Brom can secure a January transfer for midfielder Jon Russell.