Martin Wanless predicts…
Score prediction: Brighton 1 Sunderland 1
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Adingra
There’ll be a few changes today with Sadiki, Talbi, Traore and Reinildo definitely missing out from last week, but we’ve got
a number of players itching to get their opportunity – and one of those is ex Brighton man Simon Adingra.
He’ll be desperate to prove a point and I think he’ll get a start today – and I’m backing him for first goalscorer, too in a credible 1-1 draw.
‘The Champion’ Malc Dugdale predicts…
Score prediction: Brighton 0 Sunderland 1
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Wilson Isidor
After that wonderful win against the unwashed I’m more than happy for the lads to settle in with the Afcon staff losses and get a draw. I think we will still have enough to grab a win though.
Isidor is going to get our difference maker goal for me, in a tight game where we set up not to lose and to revel in defending but pinch one on the counter to get all three points.
If we can get a point at Liverpool we can trouble these. Go get em lads.
Jack Howe-Gingell predicts…
Score prediction: Brighton 1 Sunderland 2
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Xhaka
It was absolutely incredible last week. What we perhaps didn’t show in attacking flair, we more than made up for in backbone, grit and tenacity. These lads showed what warriors they are, and the spirit feels at an all time high.
We will miss our outgoing lads for the AFCON, and I wish them well in their great honour in pursuing glory for their home nations. This gives an opportunity for others to step in and show what they are made of.
I’m interested to see who comes in for Reinildo and Sadiki, both of whom are quickly becoming pivotal players for us. I don’t even know if Sadiki can be replaced, that is how stellar he has performed. Will we bring Hume back in on the left, or will Dennis Cirkin be given an opportunity at this level? Regis Le Bris has some thinking to do, though I back anyone under the watchful eye of Granit Xhaka, fresh off the back of a stunning display of leadership against the visitors.
Brighton away will be a stern test. It is a long way to go and we will need play well to get anything. It’ll be nice to have Tommy Watson in our midst, as without him, we wouldn’t even be making these predictions. Hopefully, it will be a disappointing day for him and we smuggle home three points.
Will Jones predicts…
Score prediction: Brighton 1 Sunderland 1
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Woltemade
I’m still not really over last weekend. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t flashy, but it was proper Sunderland – digging in, fighting for everything and refusing to be beaten. You could feel how much it meant, and that kind of spirit doesn’t just disappear seven days later.
AFCON obviously hurts us. Losing lads like Reinildo and especially Sadiki is a blow, but this is where others have to step up.
Brighton away is no joke. Long trip, decent side, and not many teams go there and enjoy themselves. We’ll have to be switched on, defend properly and take whatever chances come. I don’t expect us to dominate the ball, but I do expect us to compete, and that’s half the battle.
If we keep it tight and nick one, I can see Isidor causing them problems. He’s got that knack of popping up when you need him. A draw feels about right for me, and I’d take it all day long.
Matty Foster predicts…
Score prediction: Brighton 2 Sunderland 1
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Isidor
So, here is the test for Regis, as some key players jet off to AFCON.
But it presents an opportunity for those waiting in the wings.
Whilst we still ride the high of the Derby-day win, we face a Brighton side who have been strong at the Amex.
Only Villa have left with all the spoils so far, so it will be interesting to see how we fare.
As I’ve said all season, any point on the road is a positive, so I’d snap your hand off for a draw.
Whilst I don’t want to be Mr Negative amongst my fellow predictors, I have a feeling we’ll come away with nothing today.
Anthony Gair predicts…
Score prediction: Brighton 1 Sunderland 2
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Dan Ballard
On the comedown from probably one of the best weekends of my life on Sunday, I think we’ll start slowly and off tempo against the Seagulls. It will be tough to maintain the kind of intensity shown against Newcastle, and we’ll have to dig deep to do anything against an always impressive Brighton and Hove Albion.
I always call this the family derby, my Dad is a Brighton fan (being from there) and obviously I’m a Mackem. So this has a lot riding on it for me too!
We will come into it the longer the game goes on and we’ll punish Brighton as they weaken towards the end of the game.
Gary Winter predicts…
Score prediction: Brighton 0 Sunderland 0
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: No scorer
There’s just not a game that can follow that one last Sunday for energy, atmosphere and all-round ecstacy.
A trip to the Amex Stadium is an intriguing one, as it’ll be the first glimpse of our much talked about AFCON-less lineup.
Many are expecting us to struggle in the coming weeks but we couldn’t really have done any more, putting ourselves in a fantastic position. I think we’ve got enough to cover the holes in the starting lineup. Where I think it gets tricky, and a little stretched for us, is the busy Christmas schedule – the need for fresh legs and any potential injuries and suspensions.
I think we can get a positive result today but we are wearing that black kit again, which has yielded 1 draw, 2 losses and no goals for. I’m sceptical until I see otherwise, so the most positive I’m willing to be is backing a scoreless draw. I love that shirt as well so I really hope our fortunes turn.
There’s just not a game that can follow that one last Sunday for energy, atmosphere and all-round ecstacy.
Brett Lyons-Davis predicts…
Score prediction: Brighton 2 Sunderland 3
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Ballard
Well Sunday was fun wasn’t it and gave us a very early Christmas present. I can’t imagine the lads are going to take anything for granted and Régis will have the red and white army focused on carrying on what’s becoming a decent December despite initial fears when the fixtures came out.
Brighton had been doing alright this season but the last two games, drawing with West Ham and losing to out-of-form Liverpool, shows we can go into the game in a positive frame of mind and go hunting for 3 points.
Ballard to opening the score as the lads win an exciting 3-2 away win.
All together now: Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way – oh what fun it is to see Sunderland win away!
Last Time Out…
What a weekend that was. The lads did us proud against the Mags, and what both sides lacked in quality and finesse football, our boys made up for in grit, desire and bloody minded will to win.
The fact that the Newcastle striker scored a contender for OG of the season to get us the win doesn’t matter. We won and even if that marvellous header hadn’t gone in, we were the only side who looked like doing anything of note. The biggest victory however was the shithousery.
The Visitors score board. The photo opp mocking the cup facade. Beautiful. Just so proud.
We also kept our ongoing record of winning every game directly after we lose one. Thanks for that Man City.
Last Game Predictions…
All the lads went for a win against the Mags, probably more through hope and a refusal to predict anything else than genuine expectation.
With Walter the murderer scoring the only goal of the game, no points were gathered for first to net.
Predictions Table & Standings
The table stays the same with basically a point for all from our psychological demolition of the Geordies.
Four points remains what you get for the right score and first scorer and the gap for many to make up.
Maybe a few of the lads have put a win at Brighton on their Santa letter…
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 first Sunderland goalscorer = One point (no goalscorer is a valid call)
- Possible deductions for being lazy and not submitting on time = a two-point deduction.
