Stats at a glance: Fulham (H): 29/08/2026
Average home goals predicted: 2
Average away goals predicted: 0.6
Confidence of Roker Report’s writers: 6.75/10
Predicting a win for the Lads: 88%
Martin Wanless (Cautious Optimist) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Fulham 0
The first game of the season should be one we are all excitedly looking forward to, and I hope the negativity sweeping social media at present isn’t reflected in real life — the club deserves our backing, as does this team.
On the field, we have no real clue about what Fulham are going to be about.
That’s fine, but we know
from the fact they were the only team to do the double over us last season that this is going to be a tough game.
Key differentiator: Our subs will come on to good effect.
Confidence: 5/10.
Bold call: Our goal will come from a corner.
Malc Dugdale (Scarred happy clapper) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Fulham 0
The first away game was a disappointment but on another day we take one of those early chances, don’t make two daft mistakes, and win that game easily.
We’re back home today, and with a point to prove I think the Lads will be solid, creative and very hard to beat with a full house baying them on.
2-0, no injuries, more minutes for some of our new lads, and let’s draw a line under that first game as the bad day at the office that it was.
Key differentiator: Noah Sadiki was outstanding in the first half last week. He’ll be a massive influence for us today and could be a game-changer.
Confidence: 8/10. Home advantage has to make this an 8 or 9.
Bold call: We’ll score once in each half, with a steady but controlled home performance.
Jack Howe-Gingell (Eternal optimist) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Fulham 0
Let’s hit back with a bang.
Last week was classic football stuff:promoted side. Away from home. Nothing game and two mistakes send you home empty-handed.
That can’t happen again.
We need to raise the standards and I think the home crowd will be just the tonic to do that. Fulham were our bogey team last season so this is an early chance to put that right.
A few of our lads looked leggy, particularly the World Cup crew, so hopefully that’ll improve.
Key differentiator: Fulham will try to play football against us, and it will suit our style. Soak it up and catch them out.
Confidence: 7/10
Bold call: Sunderland to be two up inside fifteen minutes.
“Champion” Will Jones (Heart over head) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Fulham 1
The opening day-defeat at Ipswich was a frustrating reminder that this league gives you no margin for sloppy moments.
We weren’t miles off it but two mistakes turned a decent away performance into a defeat. Sunday is the chance to put this right — and what a better place to do it than the Stadium of Light?
A full home crowd should give the lads the lift they need, and I’m expecting a much sharper performance with a week’s extra fitness and a point to prove. Fulham caused us plenty of problems last season but this feels like a different test and one that should suit us better with them willing to play.
I’m backing us to start fast, ride the atmosphere and get the first win of the season on the board. It might get nervy later on but we’ll have enough.
Key differentiator: The home crowd. If we can turn the opening twenty minutes into a cauldron, Fulham could struggle to settle.
Confidence: 7/10.
Bold call: A new signing from this summer gets their first goal or assist for the club.
Matty Foster (Pragmatist) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Fulham 1
The characters in our dressing room will ensure a positive reaction to last weekend’s defeat.
Fulham managed the double against us last season, but they’ve been all change since then. I reckon with our first home game of the season will come our first three points.
Key differentiator: There will be a huge buzz around the club, particularly with the European fixtures being announced. A white-hot atmosphere will give the Lads that extra motivation to get the job done.
Confidence: 7/10
Bold call: All goals will come in the first half, and we’ll see the game out in the second half.
Anthony Gair (Depreciating optimist) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 4 Fulham 1
We’ll go into this game desperate to prove we’re not shit, and we will come out of the blocks flying.
Fulham have the ability to cause us issued going forward, but defensively they are pretty suspect.
We have players who know they under performed last time out, and were perhaps not fit enough. They’ve had a week to improve their condition — we know how good they all are, and they’re definitely better than they were at Ipswich.
Key differentiator: Enzo Le Fée will run the show from midfield, winning the ball back, creating chances and controlling the ball in the middle.
Confidence: 8/10
Bold call: We’ll score three in the first half.
Gary Winter (Glass almost empty) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Fulham 1
After a disappointing first game, we have a great opportunity to get back in our stride with three points at home.
Last season’s results against Fulham are still playing on my mind, though — they just seem to have our number. A draw would give us a point more than we managed against them previously, but will likely only raise the early bed-wetting decibels.
Key differentiator: Brian Brobbey will step up against Calvin Bassey, with the latter handling the former with ease in the same fixture back in February.
Confidence: 4/10
Bold call: Sunderland to equalise after the eighieth minute.
Brett Lyons-Davis (Gut feeling guy) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Fulham 1
Football is back at the Stadium of Light.
Mistakes are out of the way and the season starts here. I can see the Lads being up for this, with a full crowd backing them in from of the Sky cameras.
These lads are settling into life in the Premier League with new players and a new manager…let’s do them.
Key differentiator: The Stadium of Light. It was massive for us last season and will be again now.
Confidence: 8/10
Bold call: A summer signing gets their first goal of the season.
Last game thoughts…
Too many mistakes cost us at least a point away at Ipswich in the first game of the season. That said, if we’d converted more of the chances we created, we may still have got something, but it wasn’t to be.
Today, we welcome Fulham back to the Stadium of Light.
They took all the spoils and the points last season, which Régis Le Bris and the Lads will be keen to atone for, especially Wilson Isidor, who’s extended his stay with Sunderland this week and will be chomping at the bit to contribute to a change in our fortunes.
Last game predictions…
There was a lot of confidence for the first game of the season, and rightly so as on our day, we can give anyone a game at home and away.
Despite a cracking equalizer, we failed to hold on for even a point, so with no correct outcomes and nobody getting a bold call, a quiet week for the scorekeeper.
Predictions table and standings
Will heads the table based on winning the league last season on count back, but our lack of a win or a draw and the new Bold Call format means no points for anyone after one away match.
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 Bold Call = One point
- Possible deductions for being lazy and not submitting on time = a two-point deduction.
