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Martin Wanless predicts...
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Burnley 1
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Brian Brobbey
After last week’s disappointing result against West Ham,we’ve got a huge game tonight.
Burnley have picked up performance-wise recently and are more than capable of getting a result tonight, so we’ll have to be far better than we were last time out.
Selection-wise, it’s going to interesting to see who plays instead of Granit Xhaka, and given the change in formation last week didn’t work,I have a feeling it’ll be a tight draw – with Brobbey getting our goal.
Hopefully I’m wrong and we get all three points!
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - JANUARY 17: Granit Xhaka of Sunderland reacts during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Crystal Palace at Stadium of Light on January 17, 2026 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - JANUARY 17: Granit Xhaka of Sunderland reacts during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Crystal Palace at Stadium of Light on January 17, 2026 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
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‘The Champion’ Malc Dugdale predicts...
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Burnley 1
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Brian Brobbey
While no game is a “must win” until later in the season and something really depends on the outcome, we could very much do with one after a poor first half at the old Olympic Stadium last weekend.
The lads have had an extended period off so hopefully they’ve worked out both how we play without Granit Xhaka and how to get a result against a team who are late draw specialists after being whipping boys — if marginally better than Wolves — for most of the season.
Brobbey scored in an improved second half and I fancy him to be too much for the visiting defence.
If we can have the usual home attitude and pace and drive, we may well coast this, but if we come half asleep to Dance of the Knights, Burnley could look to do the double.
I’m backing a narrow win but I hope it’s a solid and routine one.
Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey (left) scores their side’s first goal during the Premier League match at the London Stadium. Picture date: Saturday January 24, 2026. (Photo by Jordan Pettitt/PA Images via Getty Images)
Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey (left) scores their side’s first goal during the Premier League match at the London Stadium. Picture date: Saturday January 24, 2026. (Photo by Jordan Pettitt/PA Images via Getty Images)
PA Images via Getty Images
Jack Howe-Gingell predicts...
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Burnley 0
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Enzo Le Fée
Another disappointing away trip resulted in us leaving the capital with no points and I think our first half performance was one of the worst of the season — with perhaps some poor selection choices following the absence of Granit Xhaka.
Xhaka is a massive miss, but we must learn to cope without him and it feels like an absolute given to me that Lutsharel Geertruida should drop into that role. The lad has loads of class, and I think it would help massively.
Burnley have managed to go three games unbeaten — although they haven’t won a game since October — so we should be going hard and making sure we’re on top at home.
I think we will have too much for Burnley, in front of our fans. We were given a reality check in the reverse fixture back in August, so it’s time we repaid the favour with a strong showing.
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 07: Sunderland’s Lutsharel Geertruida arriving at the stadium during the Premier League match between Brentford and Sunderland at Gtech Community Stadium on January 07, 2026 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images)
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 07: Sunderland’s Lutsharel Geertruida arriving at the stadium during the Premier League match between Brentford and Sunderland at Gtech Community Stadium on January 07, 2026 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images)
CameraSport via Getty Images
Will Jones predicts...
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Burnley 1
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Brian Brobbey
That defeat at West Ham stung because we never really got going, but being back at home usually snaps us out of that.
Burnley haven’t won since October, but have drawn their last three. They’ve become more resilient but can’t pick up three points for the life of them, so if we start with a bit of intent, the game’s there for us.
Brobbey should enjoy himself against their centre halves, and I think he scores to help us on our way.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - JANUARY 29: Brian Brobbey warms up during a training session at The Academy of Light on January 29, 2026 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - JANUARY 29: Brian Brobbey warms up during a training session at The Academy of Light on January 29, 2026 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
Sunderland AFC via Getty Images
Matty Foster predicts...
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Burnley 0
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Brian Brobbey
Putting our West Ham disappointment behind us, we face one of the six sides to have beaten us this season.
Burnley’s return to the Premier League has been the struggle everyone expected of us, with three wins all season, — the last of which came way back in October.
It would be typical for us to go unbeaten at home to this point, and lose to a side on a fourteen-game winless streak, wouldn’t it?
One thing I’ll say is that after every defeat, we’ve followed it up well and I’ll back that to happen again tonight — but I don’t envisage a classic!
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris applauds the fans after the Premier League match at the London Stadium. Picture date: Saturday January 24, 2026. (Photo by Jordan Pettitt/PA Images via Getty Images)
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris applauds the fans after the Premier League match at the London Stadium. Picture date: Saturday January 24, 2026. (Photo by Jordan Pettitt/PA Images via Getty Images)
PA Images via Getty Images
Anthony Gair predicts...
Score prediction: Sunderland 4 Burnley 0
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Lord Daniel Ballard
I’m over-confident for this one, I’m aware, but I feel like Burnley will turn up thinking they have our number and that our boys know that they’re fully capable of having these over a barrel — particularly at the Stadium of Light.
It’s all about when the first goal is scored, but I reckon we’ll be 2-0 up before half time.
So 4-0 I’m going for. I don’t care if it’s overconfidence — I’m not doing very well anyway!
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 10: Thierno Barry of Everton in action with Dan Ballard of Sunderland during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Everton and Sunderland on January 10, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 10: Thierno Barry of Everton in action with Dan Ballard of Sunderland during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Everton and Sunderland on January 10, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
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Gary Winter predicts...
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Burnley 1
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Brian Brobbey
Granit Xhaka was obviously a key miss but the last match was unfortunately a stark reminder that there are no easy fixtures in the Premier League and if we’re not 100% at the races in every department, it’s unforgiving and we’ll come away empty-handed more often than not.
Burnley haven’t quite turned the corner by any means, but draws in their last three league games against Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham make this a far from straightforward affair.
It looks like we’ll be without our influential skipper again so it could be a tough night, but this also represents an opportunity for the team to prove — in front of the Sky cameras — they aren’t as reliant on him as people think.
I back our levels of commitment and organisation and I expect to see a change in personnel, but it’s the lack of consistent quality attacking play that leaves this one in the balance for me.
I can see Brobbey continuing his run of goals but I’m not sure it’ll be enough to take all three points.
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 24: Oliver Scarles of West Ham United battles for possession with Eliezer Mayenda of Sunderland during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Sunderland at London Stadium on January 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 24: Oliver Scarles of West Ham United battles for possession with Eliezer Mayenda of Sunderland during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Sunderland at London Stadium on January 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
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Brett Lyons-Davis predicts...
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Burnley 0
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Enzo Le Fée
Well last Saturday was a bit crap. During the first half especially, we looked lost without our talisman Granit Xhaka and West Ham probably couldn’t believe their luck.
Burnley’s last three league results have been draws against Spurs, Liverpool and Manchester United, so they’ll be stubborn and be desperate to take our unbeaten home record.
Hopefully with the players been given a deserved few days’ break and most of them grabbing some winter sun, they’ll be refreshed, ready to go again, and to recapture their form from the start of the season.
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 24: Callum Wilson of West Ham United and Enzo Le Fee of Sunderland during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Sunderland at London Stadium on January 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 24: Callum Wilson of West Ham United and Enzo Le Fee of Sunderland during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Sunderland at London Stadium on January 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Offside via Getty Images
Last time out…
The less we say about last weekend, the better.
Our first half desire was left wanting, and before we knew it we were 3-0 down to a couple of avoidable goals and a wonder strike.
We did better in the second half with a well-created and taken goal for our number nine, but apart from Luke O’Nien hitting the crossbar corner with a cross-come-shot, we didn’t really get super close to making it a nervous finish to the game.
It was our first foray without Granit Xhaka, and if anything maybe it was useful to lose like that away from home in order to give the Lads a kick up the arse, as we probably have a couple more fixtures without the skipper to come.
Tonight, we have to rub our skinned knees, get back on the bike and show the fans that it was one of a few bad days away from the Stadium of Light.
West Ham United’s Callum Wilson is challenged by Sunderland’s Daniel Ballard (right) and Omar Alderete (left) during the Premier League match at the London Stadium. Picture date: Saturday January 24, 2026. (Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)
West Ham United’s Callum Wilson is challenged by Sunderland’s Daniel Ballard (right) and Omar Alderete (left) during the Premier League match at the London Stadium. Picture date: Saturday January 24, 2026. (Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)
PA Images via Getty Images
Last game predictions…
None of the RR writers went for a loss and only two thought we would draw, so no points for right score or outcome.
Everyone bar Jack picked Brian Brobbey to get us our first and in this case only goal, so seven of the lads get a point, and Jack gets nothing.
Predictions table and standings
Everyone takes one point more apart from Jack, so the table stays as was, but Martin and those below him caught up on Jack a wee bit.
Gair gets into double figures, which is worth a mention for sure.
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 first Sunderland goalscorer = One point (no goalscorer is a valid call)
Possible deductions for being lazy and not submitting on time = a two-point deduction.