Sunderland v Coventry predictions: Tight clash in store at Stadium of Light

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Sunderland v Coventry in the Championship on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Football & Main Event, midday Sunday

Best bets

0-0 half-time correct score
2pts 9-5 Betfair, Paddy Power

Viktor Gyokeres to be first goalscorer
1pt 5-1 bet365, Betfair, Paddy Power

Team news

Sunderland
Centre-back Daniel Ballard should make his debut but fellow new signing Leon Dajaku (calf) may only be fit enough for the bench alongside Carl Winchester, who has recovered from illness.

Coventry
Martyn Waghorn should be fit for the clash with his former club but Liam Kelly (hamstring) is out and Kasey Palmer is a doubt.

Match preview

Sunderland are back in the Championship after a frustrating four-season exile in League One and the Black Cats will hope to emulate Sunday's opponents Coventry, who were promoted as third-tier champions in 2019-20.

The Sky Blues finished 16th in their first season and 12th last term when they were in the scrap for the playoffs before fading with just two wins in their last ten games.

A haul of 64 points still represented a terrific campaign for Mark Robins's men, whose belief that they belong in this company was boosted by 3-1 and 4-1 victories over champions Fulham.

Bookmakers are struggling to pick a favourite for Coventry's trip to the Stadium of Light, despite the fact that Sunderland won six of their last seven League One home games including a playoff semi-final victory over Sheffield Wednesday.

The Black Cats' decision to appoint Alex Neil in February, having sacked Lee Johnson with the club third in the table, was vindicated by their 2-0 playoff final win over Wycombe.

However, Sunderland needed plenty of late goals during the tense run-in to the regular season and their Championship opener may be a slow-burning contest.

Seven of their last 14 regular-season games were goalless at the break and the 0-0 half-time correct score looks a decent bet given that Coventry scored just 20 first-half goals in 46 league games last term.

One man who could make the breakthrough for Cov is Sweden forward Viktor Gyokeres, who is worth backing at 5-1 in a market headed by prolific Sunderland striker Ross Stewart.

Snapped up by Brighton in January 2018 and loaned to St Pauli, Swansea and Coventry, Gyokeres has flourished since sealing a permanent move to the Sky Blues.

He made a blistering start to last season, scoring nine times in his first 11 appearances including a brace against Fulham, and also notched in Sweden's 3-2 Nations League defeat to Norway in June.

Key stat

Coventry scored 40 of their 60 league goals in the second half of matches last season.

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