FM Preview: Sunderland v Blackburn Rovers 01 Jan 2011

Last updated : 31 December 2010 By Footymad Previewer
Footymad preview
History of the Sunderland v Blackburn Rovers fixture

Blackburn R. face a trip to Sunderland at The Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon, needing to turn around their fortunes at the ground. The Rovers will be hoping to improve upon a record which has seen them lose 42 and win only 14 of the 68 games.

The most recent encounter between these two sides was just last season, in August 2009, the The Black Cats carving out a narrow 2 - 1 victory in a Premier League match.

For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here

Recent encounters between the teams:
2010/2011Mon 18 OctBlackburn R.0 - 0SunderlandPREM
2009/2010Mon 28 DecBlackburn R.2 - 2SunderlandPREM
2009/2010Sat 22 AugSunderland2 - 1Blackburn R.PREM
2008/2009Wed 04 FebBlackburn R.2 - 1SunderlandFAC
2008/2009Sat 24 JanSunderland0 - 0Blackburn R.FAC
2008/2009Fri 26 DecSunderland0 - 0Blackburn R.PREM
2008/2009Sat 15 NovBlackburn R.1 - 2SunderlandPREM

Recent respective form guides

Sunderland have lost just once in their last six home games, winning four and drawing the other one. These games have seen the The Black Cats score just 7 goals, though they have conceded 4.

Blackburn R. have an average recent record on the road, winning 2 of the last six, but losing the other 4. While the Rovers have hit 10 goals, 17 have hit the back of the wrong net.

Sunderland's total of 27 points from their 20 games sees them sitting in the playoff places in Barclays Premier League. Blackburn R. lie just outside the playoff positions in the Barclays Premier League, picking up 25 from their 20 games so far.

For a detailed analysis of team form guides throughout the leagues, click here

Current form guides:PWDLFAP
Sunderland6213477
Blackburn R.62139137

FootyMad's prediction ...

This promises to be an excellent test for the in-form Rovers, but one which I believe will end in stalemate. Score draw

Sequence statistics:
Sunderland 4 games since last home draw.
Latest 2 games ended in defeat.
Not won in the 2 most recent games.
Blackburn R. 10 games since last away draw.