Sunderland v Hull: Derby win to provide launch pad for more Mackem success
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When Adam Johnson slid home to bag his third Tyne and Wear derby goal in as many meetings, and make it four on the bounce for Sunderland against neighbours Newcastle, Gustavo Poyet must have thought Christmas had come early.
But with a struggling Hull City side up next, the Festive period could yet provide the Black Cats with more gifts.
The hosts are even money shots to secure their first back-to-back victory since April, while it is 23/10 for the draw, or 3/1 that Steve Bruce’s men bag a much needed three points.
Rather than get stuck into the straight WDW market, Ladbrokes News’ Ben Stones has dug out three better value bets for the match.
Sorry Sunderland and Hull fans, but this is not likely to be a classic.
Poyet’s may have shaken off the tag of draw specialists (they have 10 this season), but they are still far from rampant in front of goal.
Just twice in the last nine games involving the Stadium of Light outfit have spectators been treated to more than three goals.
Add in that Hull have been woeful in front of goal of late – they’ve scored two in their last nine – and this looks an extremely solid bet.
As detailed above, the Tigers are simply not scoring at the moment, and things only look like getting worse over the busy Christmas period.
They will be without both Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore in the middle of the park through suspension, with influential midfielder Mo Diame already on the sidelines.
What’s more, centre back Michael Dawson is currently sidelined through injury, providing another massive blow for Bruce’s men.
So struggling to score, and lacking bite throughout the spine of the team, we can only see this going the way of the hosts in the north east, and with Hull drawing a blank in seven of their last nine, the added clean sheet boosts the value somewhat.
So with Sunderland edging a low-scoring affair fancied, it would seem silly not to have a crack at the correct score market.
Hull may edge the head-to-heads 5-4 between the sides, but in the form they are in we cannot back them.
That three of the four Sunderland victories came by one goal to nil, mean that’s the play that ticks all the boxes for us.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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