Does Sunderland fix the group win?
The last few weeks couldn’t have gone worse for the Black Cats from Sunderland. Not only have there been bitter defeats in League One, but SAFC have also had to say goodbye to the prestigious FA Cup. However, Sunderland are still represented in two of the three cup competitions, including the EFL Trophy.
There, the last group game against Bradford City is scheduled for this week. Because Sunderland have already booked their ticket to the knockout phase and Bradford are already last in the group, the result in the last group game has no particular significance for either club. It is therefore obvious that both coaches will start the rotation machine in the cup match.
Although the Black Cats have lost four of their last five competitive games, the best betting sites see Sunderland against Bradford as favourites according to odds even with a potential second string. The visitors, meanwhile, are not in good shape either.
In the EFL Trophy, Bradford City have lost both group games so far and conceded a total of six goals. It’s quite possible that the next high cup defeat now beckons against the Black Cats.
Sunderland – Statistics & current form
Just a few weeks ago, Sunderland AFC were among the hottest promotion candidates in League One, brimming with confidence after a strong start to the season. In the meantime, the Black Cats have experienced a small relapse into the old days and have already squandered the momentum from the start of the season.
In League One, SAFC slipped to fifth place after three defeats in a row. The gap to the direct promotion places – with one game less on the account – is currently five points. After losing 5-1 to Rotherham and 3-0 to Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland also suffered a surprise FA Cup defeat.
Against the underclass visitors from Mansfield, Sunderland AFC even missed a goal for the second time in a row. Now it’s time for head coach Lee Johnson & Co. to play their next home game at the Stadium of Light, where the Black Cats can secure the group win in the EFL Trophy with the minimum of a point.
SAFC with B eleven to win group?
Sunderland have already qualified early for the knockout phase of the EFL Trophy, so the last group game is of secondary importance for the Black Cats. Moreover, because a number of key performers have also been called up for the ongoing international break, it stands to reason that Johnson will refrain from using any players from the first-team squad.
In total, five players from the SAFC squad will be represented at their respective national teams. It is therefore quite possible that the coach will rely on a mixture of reservists and players from his own youth.
So far, Sunderland have won both group matches in the EFL Trophy 2-1. The Black Cats have not lost a competitive match against Bradford since February 2015. Most recently, there were even two wins in a row against Tuesday’s opponents. If Sunderland vs Bradford City win their third match in a row, the odds for tip 1 will be reasonable.
Predicted line-up of Sunderland:
Hoffmann – Younger, Alves, Jessup, Dyce – Sohna, O’Nien – Dajaku, Wearne, Taylor – Harris
Last matches played by Sunderland:
FA Cup
11/06 2021 – Sunderland 0 – 1 Mansfield
League One
11/02 2021 – Sheffield Wednesday 3 – 0 Sunderland
10/30 2021 – Rotherham 5 – 1 Sunderland
Carabao Cup
10/26 2021 – Queens Park Rangers (1)0 – 0(3) Sunderland
League One
10/23 2021 – Sunderland 0 – 1 Charlton
Bradford City – Statistics & current form
Two times in a row Bradford City missed the promotion to League One. This year is the next attempt of the Bantams, who are already in twelfth place after 15 matchdays. Currently, only two points separate Bradford City from the starting positions for the promotion play-offs.
In League Two, Bradford remained unbeaten for two games in a row. Among others, the Bantams even scored against the leaders Forest Green. In contrast to SAFC, Bradford also remained unbeaten in the FA Cup. Because the home match against Exeter City ended with a draw, Bradford City now also have a return match in the FA Cup.
In return, the last cup game in the EFL Trophy is on the agenda. Bradford no longer have a mathematical chance of reaching the knockout stage of the lower-tier cup competition and have so far only been a points supplier. Head coach Derek Adams’ side have lost both group games 3-0.
Compulsory match with test match character
Another defeat is obvious given the way the EFL Trophy has gone so far, especially as – as with SAFC – it is likely that the Bantams will not be at their best going into the inconsequential cup match. Among other things, the away record in Sunderland also speaks against a surprise coup.
Bradford City have not won away from home against their cup opponents for more than 21 years. Since then, there have been two defeats and a draw in three away matches against the Black Cats. Bradford City have also failed to score in all three matches.
Betting fans who would still like to make a prediction on the visitors in Sunderland vs Bradford City can pick up attractive odds above the 4.00 mark if they are successful.
Predicted Bradford City line-up:
Hornby – Staunton, Kelleher, O’Connor – Evans, Cooke, Watt, Foulds – Scales – Angol, Robinson
Last matches played by Bradford City:
FA Cup
11/06 2021 – Bradford 1 – 1 Exeter
League Two
10/30 2021 – Bradford 1 – 1 Forest Green
10/23 2021 Swindon 1 – 3 Bradford
10/19 2021 Bradford 1 – 3 Hartlepool
10/16 2021 Bradford 2 – 2 Bristol Rovers
Sunderland – Bradford City Direct Comparison / H2H Record
This is the 30th time the two clubs have met. So far, Sunderland lead the direct comparison against Bradford City with a record of 13-8-8. Only once have the Black Cats and Bantams met in a cup tie. That match was in the 2014/15 season in the FA Cup, where Bradford eliminated the visitors from Sunderland from the cup with 2-0 at their own stadium.
The last time the two clubs met in League One was in the 2018/19 season. On that occasion, Sunderland prevailed over Bradford City in both the first and second legs.
Sunderland – Bradford City Tip
Although Sunderland, meanwhile, still have a chance of winning the group, the final group game in the EFL Trophy is only secondary for the Black Cats. Already in the group matches before, the promotion aspirants from League One had fired up the rotation machine and spared some key players in the cup competition.
It is therefore obvious that SAFC head coach Lee Johnson will rely on few or no players from the first team against Bradford City. The visitors are also expected to field a B eleven for their final group game in the EFL Trophy. With two defeats and a total of six goals conceded from two group games, their cup exit is already mathematically sealed.
We rate a potential second string of the Black Cats stronger than the visitors from Bradford. Nevertheless, because the cup match is only a test match, betting on the 1X2 market is more than risky. Therefore, with a stake of six units on Sunderland vs Bradford City, we dare to bet at good odds on over 2.5 goals in the match. After all, a prediction on this paid off in both of Sunderland’s group games.
