The Lads are back in league action on the blue side of Manchester. Can we take anything from a tough-looking game?
, Martin Wanless, Jack Howe-gingell, Will Jones, Matthew Foster, Anthony Gair, and Gary Winter
Manchester City v Norwich City - Carabao Cup Third Round
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: General view outside the stadium before the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Manchester City and Norwich City at Etihad Stadium on September 17, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
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Stats at a glance: Man City (A): 20/09/2026
Average home goals predicted: 2
Average away goals predicted: 0.75
Confidence of Roker Report’s writers: 3.25/10
Predicting a win for the Lads: 12.5%
Martin Wanless (Cautious Optimist) says…
Score prediction: Man City 1 Sunderland 1
This is a massively tough game, but with us resting the likes of Brian Brobbey, Dan Ballard and Thomas Meunier in midweek, we shouldn’t be too fatigued — and this is the sort of game all players will want to play in.
City haven’t been fantastic under Enzo Maresca but they’re a quality outfit and it’s a tough task to get anything here.
A draw would be a fantastic result, and hopefully we can come away with something.
Key differentiator: If we’re going to get anything, Brobbey’s going to have to have an exceptional game — holding the ball up, winning free kicks and relieving pressure.
Confidence: 4/10
Bold call: Maresca to pull off his mask and reveal himself to actually be Pep Guardiola. But no-one actually notices.
He’d have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for you pesky kids. Or Sunderland’s goal to come from outside the box. Take your pick.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Enzo Maresca, head coach of Manchester City during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Manchester City and Norwich City at Etihad Stadium on September 17, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Enzo Maresca, head coach of Manchester City during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Manchester City and Norwich City at Etihad Stadium on September 17, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
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Malc Dugdale (Scarred happy clapper) says…
Score prediction: Man City 1 Sunderland 1
A lot of people in the media and some of our writers have called this a free hit, but I don’t think that exists in the mindset of Régis Le Bris.
Man City played in midweek and though they rotated more than us and have a massively more established and expensive squad, what we did at home against Arsenal deserved a point, so I’m hopeful fate can give us what we deserved at home while away at City.
Whether we get a point or nothing, the club just cannot dampen my spirits this week.
Come on, lads, let’s give it our best bash and see what these are made of when someone goes at them toe to toe, as we did the Gunners.
Key differentiator: Nobody manages men better than Le Bris. I think Man City may under-rotate, and we could get something with another “finishers from the bench” masterclass from Le Bris.
Confidence: 3/10. Too much quality too soon after Europe, but you never know.
Bold call: A Sunderland defender scores from a set piece.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 16: Kevin Danso of Sunderland reacts during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Sunderland AFC and AZ Alkmaar at Stadium of Light on September 16, 2026 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Jack Howe-Gingell (Eternal optimist) says…
Score prediction: Man City 1 Sunderland 2
Another huge game in a wonderful week for us.
We need to bring that war-like style to this one, similarly to Arsenal, if we want to get anything. Much like that Arsenal game, it might not be enough, as that one proved, and teams often find a way.
I want us to play like warriors and try to win every yard. Man City are unbeaten and playing well, but we can give anyone a game, so why not shock them at the Etihad?
Key differentiator: Our level of war. We have to fully take it to Man City and not give an inch.
Confidence: 6/10
Bold call: Big Kev Danso to score both of our goals.
Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka during a press conference at the Academy of Light, Sunderland. Picture date: Tuesday September 15, 2026. (Photo by Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA Images via Getty Images)
PA Images via Getty Images
“Champion” Will Jones (Heart over head) says…
Score prediction: Man City 3 Sunderland 1
Two massive games in four days, and now we head to the Etihad. Wednesday was a brilliant night, but this is where the squad gets properly tested. Even with the rotation against AZ, this is a completely different level of intensity.
City are full of quality and we’re going to have to defend for our lives at times.
I still think we’ll have our moments and get ourselves on the scoresheet, but I can see City pulling away as the game goes on.
Key differentiator: The sheer intensity City can bring for ninety minutes.
Confidence: 3/10.
Bold call: The Lads will go behind 1-0 within ten minutes.
Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey (right) and AZ Alkmaar’s Dave Kwakman battle for the ball during the Europa League, league phase match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. Picture date: Wednesday September 16, 2026. (Photo by Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA Images via Getty Images)
PA Images via Getty Images
Matty Foster (Pragmatist) says…
Score prediction: Man City 3 Sunderland 0
The buzz from our first European win in over half a century may still be there, but I don’t think it’ll be enough to get anything from a refreshed City side with quality all over the park.
Key differentiator: The quality City have will be too much for us here, particularly on home soil.
Confidence: 2/10
Bold call: The ref will be busy in this one, with at least eight cards being shown by Rob Jones.
Sunderland’s Dutch goalkeeper #22 Robin Roefs saves a shot from Sunderland’s Congolese defender #29 Jules Ahoka during the English Premier League football match between Sunderland and Arsenal at The Stadium of Light in Sunderland in north east England on September 12, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
Anthony Gair (Depreciating optimist) says…
Score prediction: Man City 2 Sunderland 0
Another game against one of the best teams in the world.
Transitioning from Pep to Mini-Pep hasn’t affected City the way I expected it too — they still have the players to cause trouble for any team on the planet and they’ve proven that even when they don’t perform well, they get over the line.
Unfortunately, our toothlessness when it comes to putting the ball in the net will be our downfall, as I reckon we’ll play the same way we did against Arsenal and Brentford.
We’ll be good enough to have won the game, but ultimately, they’ll score more because…Erling Haaland.
Key differentiator:* *Haaland will be prolific in front of goal, probably with two half chances as well.
His quality will turn the game on its head after we’ll have been excellent.
Confidence: 3/10. Just the actual result being my only doubt. Could be 8-0. Haway!
Bold call: We’ll have more shots on target than City in the first half.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 13: Erling Haaland of Manchester City reacts during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on September 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
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Gary Winter (Glass almost empty) says…
Score prediction: Man City 2 Sunderland 0
Despite mixed results, the Lads have played so well this month and have really found a new gear, so it would be fantastic to carry that on and land some blows on Man City.
I’d love us to get a result at the Etihad and I know the team will give their all, but I’m wary of how much energy we’ve got left for this one.
That’s not just down to the shifts the players have put into the last couple of games, but also the occasions themselves have been adrenaline rushes on another tier.
Margins are fine at this level and we’ll have to be at our very best again to leave with a point.
Key differentiator: City are a class outfit already, but couple that with the fact we’ve just given our all against Arsenal and AZ Alkmaar in the last week, another game against top opposition is likely too much in a short space of time.
Confidence: 2/10
Bold call: We’ll concede two or more goals within a 17.5 minute period.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 16: Sunderland’s Enzo Le Fee celebrates scoring the opening goal with Noah Sadiki during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Sunderland AFC and AZ Alkmaar at Stadium of Light on September 16, 2026 in Sunderland, United Kingdom. (Photo by Lee Parker - CameraSport via Getty Images)
CameraSport via Getty Images
Brett Lyons-Davis (Gut feeling guy) says…
Score prediction: Man City 3 Sunderland 1
After a fantastic performance against Arsenal last weekend and a wonderful evening in Europe in midweek, this might be one game too many for a team that’s given us everything.
So unusually, I’m going for a defeat this weekend.
Key differentiator: City had a chance to rest players and still demolished Norwich in midweek.
Confidence: 3/10
Bold call: Erling Haaland will leave today without scoring against us (again).
Sunderland’s French head coach Regis Le Bris reacts from the sidelines during the UEFA Europa League, 1st round day 1 football match between Sunderland and AZ Alkmaar at The Stadium of Light in Sunderland in north east England on September 16, 2026. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP via Getty Images)
Last game thoughts…
Wednesday has to go down as one of the most memorable moments for our club in recent history.
Not only did we qualify for Europa League, we put on a show any top team in the world would be proud of, showcased our city for the vibrant and thriving place it is, and only went and got a win!
I have to admit my heart was going 200 bpm as Enzo Le Fée stepped up to take that spot kick, but wee Spidey did the job, and was one of about five ‘man of the match’ nominees I had after the game.
Today, we get a reality check, visiting the Etihad to take on Man City in the Premier League. Its going to be a tough ask but cometh the hour, cometh the Mackem!
If we can keep a certain big lad quiet as we did last season, who knows what we could achieve.
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 01: Erling Halland of Manchester City looks on during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 01, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
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Last game predictions…
The lads were quite confident in the week despite this being our first game in Europe for over half a century.
An extra point was up for grabs as a one off too — they had to also predict our first European scorer for fifty three years ahead of the visit of Alkmaar.
Only one of the lads called the correct score of a 1-0 win but a few other points were picked up for bold calls and Le Fée knocking in the winner.
Predictions table and standings
Matty holds the top position but Gary jumps up the table with his three points for calling the exact winning score.
Everyone down to Will in joint fifth is within a four-point perfect call of joint first, but Gair and Jack have a bit more work to do.
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 being lazy and not submitting on time = a two-point deduction.