The Sky Bet Championship heads into the international break with a fixture list which is being played over three days, beginning on Friday night when two of the top five in the league meet at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland host Leeds United.
Sunderland went to the top of the pile in midweek and know a win here will see them at the summit throughout the international break. Leeds will move above Sunderland and top of the pile for one night at least if they win this by a couple of goals.
Where to watch
The match will be shown live and in full on the Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football channels with the extended build-up beginning at 7pm ahead of the 8pm kick off.
Sunderland
You kind of wondered how this season would go for Sunderland after the terrible campaign that they put together last term. That came off the back of reaching the play-offs and probably took everyone by surprise but some horrendous decisions at the helm did them no favours and appointing a Frenchman who had never managed in England before let alone in the Championship felt like a move which could easily have gone wrong.
Regis Le Bris has hit the ground running though with six wins in his opening eight league games in charge of the Black Cats and when you consider that he has lost winger Jack Clarke in that time credit must go to him. Sunderland are the highest scorers in the division and with their young, dynamic midfield and forward options that probably isn’t a surprise. You fancy that they will get at this Leeds defence and if their own defence can stand strong, and given that it is yet to concede a goal at the Stadium of Light in the league this season you would think it can, Sunderland will feel good about their chances.
Leeds United
Leeds United fans would have feared a play-off final hangover creeping into this season before a ball was kicked, especially when you consider the level of players that departed Elland Road in the summer, but that hasn’t really come about and Leeds make the trip up the A1 having only lost one of their opening eight matches. They have drawn three of them though so all isn’t perfect but they have started much better than a lot of teams who suffer Wembley heartache do.
The big problem that is beginning to become a problem for Leeds are injuries and when you consider that this is a third match in six days that is going to test their squad depth and their powers of recovery. This is a second road match in three nights for Leeds too and that is never an easy thing to navigate. Leeds do have a couple of wins on their travels this season but what we can take from victories over Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff City remain to be seen.
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Team News
Ian Poveda is expected to miss out against his former club as he has picked up an injury which is expected to keep him out of the game. Niall Huggins and Aji Alese are also likely to miss this Friday night clash.
Leeds are without their two first-choice central midfielders with Ilia Gruev picking up a nasty injury at Norwich in midweek to join the other lengthy absentee Ethan Ampadu on the treatment table. Dan James, Manor Solomon and Max Wober also miss this game.
Betting
This looks to be a great way to open up the final weekend before the international break. Sunderland are top of the table and Leeds United were the pre-season favourites but I have to be with the home side here. They have played four at the Stadium of Light this season and won the lot without conceding a single goal and the quality in the Sunderland engine room will enjoy facing a midfield which is lacking Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev.
Sunderland are dynamic going forward and held a better looking Leeds attack to two scoreless efforts last season. When you throw in that Leeds have had a couple of tough games against Coventry and Norwich this week the energy reserves could be running low, especially as that second game was away from home without a great deal of turnaround time. Sunderland don’t have that problem. They were at home in midweek but this is a third game of the so I’ll have the draw on my side but I like the hosts here.
Tips
Back Sunderland (+0.25AH) to beat Leeds United for a 3/10 stake at 1.85 with Bet365
