Stats at a glance: Chelsea (H – Premier League): 08/11/2026
Average home goals predicted: 1.1
Average away goals predicted:
1.6Confidence of Roker Report’s writers: 3.75/10
Predicting a win for the Lads: 37.5%
Martin Wanless (Cautious Optimist) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Chelsea 1
This is where it all starts to go right.
After yet another round of clear the air talks and contemplation, the shackles will be off, Le Bris will make tactical changes and we’ll catch Chelsea off guard with a stellar performance.
Why not? This all happened just over a year ago to put us second in the table…
Let’s hope
lightning strikes twice.
Key differentiator: Our speedy passing and movement, and dynamic wing play from our wingbacks in our new 3-5-2 formation.
Confidence: 10/10
Bold call: Chemsdine Talbi to score an injury time winner.
Malc Dugdale (Scarred happy clapper) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Chelsea 1
Much as it pains me to say this I am pushing my own optimism to call a draw here.
Chelsea have their off days as outlined by Chris and his guest on the preview pod, but we have them every game right now and I cannot see us getting much.
On the strength of the epic day last May I am going for a 1-1 draw, and if we improve on that and turn a corner I’ll be chuffed to buggery, but Chelsea are not the basket case they were 6 months ago and a point really will be a great one to take.
Key differentiator: The pow wow in the week should hopefully have rattled enough sabres to get a visible step up. If not, that puts even more pressure on the gaffer.
Confidence: 3/10
Bold call: Both goals will be scored in the last 20m.
Jack Howe-Gingell (Eternal optimist) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Chelsea 0
I’m not sure where my optimism comes from but I have decided we’re going to steal a victory and kick start the season.
I have no reason to believe this other than blind faith. Thursday was dismal, Coventry before that was as bad. So why not be typically Sunderland and come up with the goods against all odds?
It’s been a rough season so far and all I can do is keep hoping. I’m certainly not confident but ITHICS is back at the forefront.
Key differentiator: Anyone can win a game on any given day.
Confidence: 2/10
Bold call: we’ll score the winner from a double deflection
“Champion” Will Jones (Heart over head) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 0 Chelsea 2
Not the response we were hoping for against Zagreb, and another disappointing result to put behind us. Chelsea at home is a tough one, particularly with them having plenty of quality throughout the squad.
The Stadium of Light should be full, and hopefully we can make life uncomfortable for them. We’ve shown this season that we can compete with the best, but I think Chelsea might have a bit too much for us on Sunday. Hopefully I’m wrong and the lads give us something to shout about.
Key differentiator: Chelsea’s quality in the final third, they’ll punish us if we give them too much space.
Confidence: 4/10
Bold call: Chelsea score both goals in the second half, with Sunderland keeping them out until the break.
Matty Foster (Pragmatist) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Chelsea 4
I am looking forward to this like you look forward to your dentist appointment. We’re just going to have to grip the chair while we’re getting this filling.
Chelsea have the players, and the ability to tear chunks off of us.
I have a feeling this will be like watching an injured seal flail helplessly as a shark circles it’s prey with the smell of blood.Key differentiator: We’re playing crap, and Chelsea have the quality to take advantage of that.
Confidence: 0/10
Bold call: We will have another man sent off, just to compound the misery
Anthony Gair (Depreciating optimist) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Chelsea 2
I think this will be a “shit or bust” scenario, where we’ll go out and attack from minute one. If we score first, then the worlds our ostrich, innit?
However, the chances of that are slim and I essentially think we’ll be ok until about 70 mins, where we go 2-1 up, then we try to defend, like we have the last 10 games.
2-2 Full Time, money in the bank for Regis; will that be enough to keep him his job? No.
Key differentiator: Whether the players actually turn up for Regis and try as hard as they know they can.
Confidence: 4/10
Bold call: Brobbey will score two.
Gary Winter (Glass almost empty) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 0 Chelsea 2
Unfortunately, these types of fixtures are not free hits in our position, like they were last season. We have to strive to pick up at least a point.
Chelsea are a really topsy-turvy side, despite sitting in fourth. I expect them to turn us over comfortably, but they aren’t actually that predictable, and they do concede a lot of goals.
If we are to get a result today, we’ll have to take it to them. We have to hope we can raise our game as we’ve often done against the “bigger” clubs and the crowd really needs to suppress frustration and ditch the anxiety.
Key differentiator: Right now, they have quality and we don’t.
Confidence: 7/10
Bold call: There will be an own goal scored.
Brett Lyons-Davis (Gut feeling guy) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Chelsea 1
I’m going for the “we raise our game v the big boys” approach for this one.
Key differentiator: Blind optimism..
Confidence: 0/10
Bold call: The smallest player on the pitch will score a header
Last game thoughts…
We need to sort ourselves out here, as this closely resembles a spiral we need to get out of, of the type many were worried about us falling into in trying to cover off European footy as well as the Prem, and domestic cups.
We were god awful in the first half against Zagreb, and the first time I have seen my team play a European game live in my lifetime of over 50 years was one to forget, more than one to remember.
Many feel if we dont turn this oil tanker seemingly destined for shallow seas and sharp rocks very soon, the Frenchman on the bridge could well walk the plank.
Not a great opponent to turn it around against, but that is what is needed or surely the end is nigh for Regis at SAFC.
Last game predictions…
Clearly our writers thought the premier league form was not going to cross over to the Europa.
They were all very wrong.
Predictions table and standings
No change again this week, and the longer this drags on, the more the pressure will climb.
Hopefully the visit of Chelsea can be the shot in the arm we all need, and not the firing line for the man who has done so much for us across the last two seasons plus.
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 repeatedly not submitting on time = a two-point deduction.
