MX23RW : Sunday, April 28 15:42:51| >> :600:106894:106894:
[monks data]
Sunderland
Championship | Gameweek 1
Aug 6, 2023 at 5pm UK
Stadium of Light
Ipswich logo

Sunderland
1 - 2
Ipswich

Neill (86')
Mowbray (0'), Hume (32'), Ballard (80')
Hume (72')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Broadhead (45+1'), Hirst (53')
McKenna (33'), Burns (35'), Hladky (56'), Morsy (62')

Preview: Sunderland vs. Ipswich Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Championship clash between Sunderland and Ipswich Town, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Sunderland will be looking to hit back from the disappointment of last season's playoffs when they start their Championship campaign against Ipswich Town on Sunday evening.

While these two sides were playing in different divisions during 2022-23, League One runners-up Ipswich are being tipped to put together a charge for a second successive promotion.


Match preview

Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray on March 12, 2023© Reuters

There is an argument that Sunderland reaching the Championship playoffs last season should be treated as the bonus that it ultimately was, yet it still did not mean that they were not hugely disappointed to miss out on back-to-back promotions.

Tony Mowbray worked wonders to move the club into a position where wins over Luton Town and Coventry City were all that were required for a return to the Premier League, but now the task is very much on trying to regain some momentum.

Sunderland have acquired seven players to strengthen their squad, some replacing the departing loanees and fringe players, but retaining the services of Jack Clarke and Ross Stewart will be as important as any arrival.

The Black Cats have placed a firm focus on signing younger talent, but if they can hit the ground running at the Stadium of Light, the potential is there for another promotion bid.

Up until their last game of pre-season, Sunderland had put together a six-game undefeated streak, but a side featuring numerous first-teamers lost 5-2 to Hartlepool United on Tuesday to indicate that more depth may be required.

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna on February 7, 2023© Reuters

Meanwhile, Ipswich have the same momentum that Sunderland had after promotion 12 months ago, with the Tractor Boys able to see that it is more than just a turn of phrase.

Kieran McKenna has not necessarily followed a second-placed finish with the level of additions that were perhaps expected, but this is a club that had already signed Championship-level players in the preceding two transfer windows.

Of those that have arrived, Peterborough United midfielder Jack Taylor, Chelsea playmaker Omari Hutchinson and returning former loanee George Hirst are all players that can benefit this squad.

Ipswich had somewhat of a different pre-season to most, playing two matches on the same day on three occasions, yet winning the Innsbruck Cup after games with RB Leipzig and Werder Bremen has only increased expectations at Portman Road.

Sunderland form (pre-season form):
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L


Ipswich Town form (pre-season form):
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • D



Team News

Birmingham City midfielder Jobe Bellingham in action against Reading on December 16, 2022.© Reuters

Jobe Bellingham is expected to be among the players that will be handed a debut for Sunderland this weekend.

The midfielder and young forward Luis Semedo are most likely to be selected by Mowbray, with defender Nectarios Triantis in line to remain on the substitutes' bench.

New signing Nathan Bishop will also be selected among the replacements, but Stewart remains out with an Achilles injury.

Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton is expected to miss this contest with a foot injury, leaving Vaclav Hladky in line to deputise between the sticks.

McKenna's side played two 60-minute games in the Innsbruck Cup, and his starting lineup for this encounter could be made up of players who featured in different games.

Taylor and Hutchinson could each make their debuts, however, regardless of whether McKenna goes with a back three or four.


Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Hume, Ballard, O'Nien, Cirkin; Neil, Ekwah, Roberts, Bellingham, Clarke; Semedo

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:
Hladky; Edmondson, Woolfenden, Burgess; Jackson, Morsy, Taylor, Davis; Chaplin, Hirst, Hutchinson


SM words green background

We say: Sunderland 1-1 Ipswich Town

Two teams with big expectations should make for an intriguing contest on Sunday, Ipswich somewhat of an unknown quantity back at this level. Nevertheless, they may relish being underdogs on this stage, and we are backing the Tractor Boys to earn a share of the spoils.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 2.5:data


ID:520348:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect8947:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Sunderland vs Ipswich

Sunderland
59.3%
Draw
18.5%
Ipswich Town
22.2%
27
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
General view of Sunderland's Stadium of Light from January 2017
Read Next:
Sunderland: Transfer ins and outs - Summer 2023
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
2Leeds UnitedLeeds45279980413990
3Ipswich TownIpswich442612688563290
4Southampton452591185622384
5Norwich CityNorwich4521101479631673
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4520121367472072
7Hull City451913136859970
8Middlesbrough45199176861766
9Coventry CityCoventry4417131468551364
10Preston North EndPreston44189175661-563
11Bristol City451711175347662
12Cardiff CityCardiff45195215165-1462
13Swansea CitySwansea451512185964-557
14Watford451317156058256
15Sunderland45168215252056
16Millwall451511194455-1156
17Queens Park RangersQPR451411204557-1253
18Stoke CityStoke451411204560-1553
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn451311215874-1650
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds45148234268-2650
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth451212215870-1248
22Birmingham CityBirmingham451211224965-1647
23Huddersfield TownHuddersfield45918184875-2745
RRotherham UnitedRotherham45412293287-5524


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!