Sunderland v Accrington betting preview, tips, team news & TV channel

Sky Sports Football, 7.45pm Friday

A match between the team who score exactly one goal against a team who can’t score at all, should at least hint at the possibility of backing Sunderland to beat Accrington 1-0 at the Stadium of Light.

That, however, means having faith in the Black Cats in the first place and right now they are utterly untrustworthy.

The fact that the best squad in Sky Bet League One are as big as 8-11 to see off one of the section’s thinnest outfits how little regard the layers have for Jack Ross’s side. They would have been 4-7 shots if this game was being priced up in August.

But Sunderland are massively underachieving and it isn’t just because disrespectful opponents are shutting up shop against them. Far from it. Sunderland have lost only once in the league since September but they have been riding their luck and are currently on a run of six draws – all 1-1 – in their last eight games.

With Luton marching off into the distance and Barnsley winning consistently again it means Sunderland are going to be looking at the playoffs at best unless they improve.

And to improve probably means change. When they go direct they tend to play with just one up front and struggle to get support. When they try to play they look one-paced and predictable.

They possess gems at this level – the likes of Dylan McGeouch, Aiden McGeady, Max Power, Will Grigg and others – but none is able to shine. And they were stagnating long before top scorer Josh Maja left for Bordeaux last month, so that’s not an excuse, either.

So Accrington, despite being in disappointing nick, have nothing to fear.

They are without a win in six in all competitions and without a goal in five and John Coleman’s men are sliding down the table. Ninth on Boxing Day, they could be in the bottom four this weekend.

Coleman says his team continue to play some nice stuff but the goals have dried up for Billy Kee and Sean McConville – only Wimbledon have scored fewer goals than Stanley.

Youngsters Paul Smyth and Luke Armstrong were drafted in from QPR and Middlesbrough respectively in January to offer options in attack but neither has clicked yet.

Sky Bet League One standings

Recommendation
Under 2.5 goals
2pts 10-11 Betfred

Team news
Sunderland
Lee Cattermole is fully fit after a layoff. Duncan Watmore (knee) is being rested.

Accrington
Central midfielder Sam Finley is in the middle of a five-game ban.

Key stat
Sunderland have scored exactly one goal in each of their last ten league games.

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