Score Predictions: Watford Vs SAFC
Yesterday at 01:00 AM
What do we think the result will be as Sunderland resume away fixtures at Vicarage Road?
'The Champion' Martin Wanless predicts...
Score prediction: Watford 0 Sunderland 2
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Rigg
Regis's red and white army head to Watford, who'd had a decent start before getting thumped at Norwich.
It'll be interesting (copyright R Le Bris) to see how we handle this game - our away performances haven't been as impressive as our home games, and we were poor second half at Plymouth. That could provide a blueprint for Watford, but I'm sure we're prepared for that.
Team selection wise I'd expect something similar to last weekend, and I'm going for Riggy to continue making headlines with the opener in a good 2-0 win.
Malc Dugdale predicts...
Score prediction: Watford 1 Sunderland 2
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Cirkin
Watford have scored in three of their last 4 games in league and cup but won none of them, so I think we can out score them if we play well.
We do need to be careful though that we do not fall into the same trap as Plymouth, where we took an away day lead during a strong first 45, then switched off for the second half and lost the game through our own errors rather than the quality of the opposition.
These lot did get battered in the last Championship outing, so we may see them attempt to be a tad tighter than they were away at The Canaries when they let in 4. Even ex SAFC lad Callum Doyle banged in a belter from 20 yards in that game, but the keeper should have done better in all honesty, especially given some of the other saves he did make. Maybe worth a few pot shots to test him…
Dennis has been playing really well of late and with him and Mundle down the left one of them is going to cause trouble. Loads of the lads have backed Mundle as our first scorer so I will go with his overlapping and very handsome colleague on the same side.
Hopefully we can get a narrow win if not better, in this first away fixture since our only defeat of the season.
Jack Howe-Gingell predicts...
Score prediction: Watford 0 Sunderland 2
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Mundle
That's the reaction we were after. The lads have shown great resilience and have bounced back, showing that it's not just physically on the pitch, but the psychological side that is also growing under the tutelage of RLB.
The lads turned out a real professional performance against Middlesbrough, who will undoubtedly be in and around the Playoff picture come the season's conclusion.
Unexpected transfer activity has led to the acquisition of Aaron Connolly. Whether Watford will come too soon is one for the club to debate, but he fits that recent signing mould of a fallen star, and it'll be interesting to see how it develops.
Watford have faded after a bright start, and have now not won in their last three games, losing two. In particular a thumping 4-1 loss to Norwich last time out will not have done anything to improve confidence.
Watford have not found goals too hard to come by but their last match shows they can be exploited. If Callum Doyle can ping one in from outside the box, imagine what we can do! I'm expecting more of the same and hopefully a couple more goals, to go with it.
Will Jones predicts...
Score prediction: Watford 1 Sunderland 1
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Mundle
After calling the game last week nearly perfectly, I believe this week will be one that we just can't figure out.
Watford are good at home, and also good without the ball, they will try and force that upon us.
It will be on us (again) to figure out how to do what we need to do when away from home and not playing our way.
I believe RLB will slowly sort this, but I'm not sure we are completely there yet.
I believe it'll be a draw, one we will look back on as a decent point, but one that could have gone either way.
Matty Foster predicts...
Score prediction: Watford 1 Sunderland 2
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Mundle
I said we needed a positive reaction after the Plymouth defeat, and by gum we got it.
Today we face a Watford side that were heavily tipped to struggle this season, but Cleverley's men have made a steady start.
However, they go into this after a 4-1 pasting at Norwich last weekend, plus a narrow 2-1 loss to Man City in the cup on Tuesday.
Interestingly, they've conceded within the first five minutes for four consecutive league matches, something we should be looking to capitalise on.
Straight out of the blocks here and two up by half time, conceding a late consolation in the second half, making it six wins out of seven.
Sounds wishful thinking, but with this side, I have every faith.
Ha'way the Lads!
Bomber Davies predicts...
Score prediction: Watford 1 Sunderland 1
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Jobe
It's Watford's home record so far this season that is keeping them in and around the playoff places at this early stage, so despite their terrible September I think it's a Watford much more like the one that won 4 successive home games in August that we will face.
I think it'll be tight, and a well-earned point at the end of it.
Unfortunately with West Brom at Sheffield Wednesday, they'll likely nick a couple more points ahead of us in the title race (if you can call it a race after 6 games!)
Gary Winter predicts...
Score prediction: Watford 2 Sunderland 2
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Mundle
You may as well stop reading here, as my predictions so far are, well...pointless. Although every time I have gone for a draw, we come away with three points...
Last weekend was a fantastic show of grit, determination, and discipline, particularly after the set back at Home Park. RLB mentioned after the Middlesbrough match that the team had reflected on the negatives against Plymouth and it was really encouraging that the players were able to put this right quickly with a subsequent solid, and largely error-free, performance.
Just shy of one month ago, Watford away was shaping up to be a potential top of the table clash. However, since winning their first five in all competitions, fortunes have seemingly reversed. Playing a team coming off the back of a 4-1 thumping often goes one of two ways - we pile on further misery, or we take a loss against a side showing some character.
In this instance I'm going for neither, and I'm predicting an entertaining draw. Mundle didn't register in the last match but came mightily close to grabbing his fourth goal in four. I dont think he can be kept off the scoresheet for two successive games.
Brett Lyons-Davis predicts...
Score prediction: Watford 1 Sunderland 3
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Roberts
With the feel good factor back on Wearside after the win over Boro, we head south in good spirits.
With Watford winless in September I don't see their luck changing Saturday as the lads stroll into town. I see the lads winning 1-3, and Patrick Roberts claiming the first
DISCLAIMER - I'm going Saturday which probably means we will lose but there's no way I'm putting us down for a loss!
Last game predictions
After a split set of forecasts last time the lads who backed us to win prevailed.
Malc and Will did the best last weekend, calling the tight 1-0 win perfectly, but neither called Rigg as the scorer.
Matty got something for calling Rigg to score our opener in such style, and Martin and Jack both got something for the right outcome.
Nothing for the draw callers, as they shot high and wide with both the outcome and the first scorer for the home side.
Latest standings
Malc and Will take the lead, with Brett a close 3rd despite him calling a draw last time out.
Bomber was a bit tardy with his submissions this week and after a lengthy VAR review lost two points, dropping down the table into joint 4th. Matty isn't far behind.
Gary doesn't dare to predict anything other than a draw as if he does we lose. Good lad.
After a solid win at home to Boro we have to hope we can now also put to bed the last away loss. If we can perform as we did at home and as we played in the first half against Argyle, we will get something here.
The away form needs to get a boost though, as we need at least some wins and worst case draws away from the SOL to stay in this early top of the league hunt.
Will Wilson get a start with the alleged knock to Mayenda?
Will new signing Aaron Connolly get a sniff of football to start another attempt at reviving his career at the tender age of 24?
Can't wait for kick off to find out.
How the points are awarded
Just a quick reminder of how we allocate points to our match-by-match predictions:
- Correct score = Three points
- Correct outcome (but not correct score) = One point
- Correct first Sunderland goalscorer = One point (no goal scorer is a valid call)
- Possible deductions for being lazy and not submitting on time = Two point deduction
