David Prutton predicts result of West Brom showdown with Sunderland for Sky Sports
David Prutton has shared his prediction for Saturday’s lunchtime clash between West Brom and Sunderland at the Stadium on Light (9 December).
The Baggies will be looking to get back to winning ways after their dramatic late defeat to Leicester City (2 December) and will face off against a Sunderland side managerless after Tony Mowbray’s sacking on Monday (4 December).
And Prutton, sharing his predictions for Sky Sports (7 December) believes the Baggies will be “heartbroken” from the Leicester result after trying to go for the victory which is “Carlos Corberan’s principles” and shares the Albion will probably “nick it” against the Black Cats.
He said: “The sacking of Tony Mowbray felt very harsh to me. They are three points off the play-offs, and he was given a young squad without a senior, recognised striker. Yes, they finished sixth last year, but this feels like a stronger top half so it was going to be a stretch to replicate, and they massively overachieved.
“West Brom will be heartbroken by how they were beaten by Leicester last week, in pursuit of victory they fell to defeat. But those are Carlos Corberan’s principles, and they will be going for it again at Sunderland, you can be sure of that.
“I think they’ll nick it.
“Prediction: 0-1.”
Boosted
Sunderland were certainly on a worrying run of results with just two wins from their last nine and struggling to score goals too but the decision to part ways with Mowbray was baffling, given the age profile of the squad and the fact they had no recognised striker.
The former Blackburn boss is one of the most decorated and experienced around and if anyone was to turn around the club’s fortunes it was certainly him.
Now, ahead of a crucial game on Saturday afternoon, the Black Cats have given West Brom all the encouragement they need to seal an away victory at the Stadium of Light. Although, Corberan will not want to see any complacency from his team.
However, the Black Cats have found goals hard to come by this season coming up against one of the Championship’s best defences so Prutton’s prediction is probably accurate.
After the Baggies’ last-gasp defeat to Leicester City over the weekend, they will certainly be eyeing up a pivotal three points on Saturday but the uncertainty regarding which Sunderland will turn up on Saturday makes this contest all the more intriguing.
In other West Brom news, Guochuan Lai appears to be very close to an exit from the Hawthorns amid a recent development involving a prospective takeover.