SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris shake hands with Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler before the Premier League match between Sunderland and Brighton & Hove Albion at Stadium of Light on March 14, 2026 in Sunderland, United Kingdom. (Photo by Lee Parker - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Stats at a glance: Brighton and Hove Albion (H): 10/10/2026
Average home goals predicted: 1.4
Average away goals predicted: 0.75
Confidence of Roker Report’s writers: 6.1/10
Predicting a win for the Lads: 50%
Martin Wanless (Cautious Optimist) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Brighton 1
This will be another tough game at the beginning of a really testing run, and Brighton are one of the best teams in the league at the moment.
A point will be a decent outcome here, and we’ll have to see how the international action has impacted the players.
Fortunately the likes of Xhaka and Meunier will have had a decent break which should stand us in good stead.
Key differentiator: I believe Fofana is ready to make a real impact.
Confidence: 5/10
Bold call: One of the players who didn’t play international football at any level this break to score our goal.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City scores his team’s fourth goal under pressure from Nordi Mukiele of Sunderland during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester City and Sunderland at Etihad Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Malc Dugdale (Scarred happy clapper) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Brighton 0
This will be a real test especially with Brobbey doubtful and Ballard now out for a few weeks.
The lads have played really well the last two though and got nothing for it. I think they can go one better than that and nick a win.
I foresee a Regis master class, where we soak up the pressure and then nick one late. We need in form Wilson Isidor to show why he should start games even if Brian is fit.
Key differentiator: This is the first test of our real depth, but I think we will find enough to get a win at home
Confidence: 6/10. Do better at the back than City and hassle like we did against Arsenal, and we will do well.
Bold call: A late winner (after 80 mins) with nick it in the 2nd half for us a la classic Le Bris
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Regis Le Bris Manager of Sunderland reacts on the side line during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester City and Sunderland at Etihad Stadium on September 19, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Getty Images
Jack Howe-Gingell (Eternal optimist) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Brighton 0
I’m delighted real football is back.
Whoever decided to have an eternity of international games so early into the season is no longer on the Christmas card list (let’s not mention the injuries).
Brighton will be a stern test. They’ve started well and beaten Arsenal already. We will have to be at our best but I have a good feeling that the long trip up from the South coast will give us the edge.
Key differentiator: A stadium starved. We’ve all been desperate for the return of proper football, and we’ll be a driver.
Confidence: 7/10
Bold call: Enzo Le Fée to score a volley on his weaker foot
The Magic Man Getty Images
“Champion” Will Jones (Heart over head) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Brighton 2
The international break probably came at a decent time after the hectic run of games, but we’re going to be without Brobbey and Ballard here, which is a big blow. Brobbey especially will be a massive miss after that ridiculous hat trick against Man City.
Brighton are a good side and I think they’ll make the most of our missing players. I still fancy us to get on the scoresheet and make a game of it, but I’m just edging towards the visitors getting the win.
Key differentiator: Missing Brobbey gives us a very different threat going forward.
Confidence: 5/10.
Bold call: Sunderland score first but Brighton turn it around after half time.
Netherlands forward Brian Brobbey sustains an injury during the UEFA Nations League match between the Netherlands and Germany at Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam, on September 24, 2026. (Photo by MARCEL VAN DORST/EYE4IMAGES/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Matty Foster (Pragmatist) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Brighton 1
For what has felt like an eternity, Sunderland are back in action against a decent Brighton side.
Hopefully there won’t be any tiredness from those returning from international break, not to mention the injury list that has been added to.
Tough game, and I would personally take a draw from this.
Key differentiator: The injury to Brobbey cannot be understated, and he will be a big miss.
Confidence: 5/10
Bold call: A Sunderland defender will score from a header from a corner.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Granit Xhaka of Sunderland celebrates his team’s second goal scored by teammate Brian Brobbey after referee Robert Jones confirms the goal after a VAR check during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester City and Sunderland at Etihad Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Anthony Gair (Depreciating optimist) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Brighton 0
We will walk this. Seagulls mauled by the black cats.
They’ve hammered everyone this season, but we are a different prospect, one that has no similarities to any other team in the Premier League.
Sometimes that affects us, sometimes it works for us. This time it’ll work for us.
Key differentiator:* *I think Sadiki, Xhaka and Le Fee will keep Brighton’s impressive midfield quiet.
Confidence: 9/10.
Bold call: No shots on target from Brighton in the first half.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Luke O’Nien and Noah Sadiki of Sunderland warm up before the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester City and Sunderland at Etihad Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Gary Winter (Glass almost empty) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Brighton 1
It comes as a relief that the long international break is finally over, but it looks like we may have come out of it weaker than we went in.
Thank god for Xhaka pretending to get covid jabs and Enzo and Nordi not making the cut for France.
Brighton will provide a real test to see where we are at this early stage. I don’t think our league position is right, but points on the board are required sooner rather than later.
I want us to continue playing on the front foot, which is much easier sitting in mid-table with some momentum, but I can see us tightening up a bit at the back, with points needed, after leaking 5 at the Etihad.
Key differentiator: We are without Brian Brobbey. As much as I like Isidor (and he is finding some good form), the way we were setting up and playing around Brobbey was really taking shape and we were creating lots more chances. This injury has come just when we were moving to the next level offensively.
Confidence: 6/10
Bold call: There will be no goals before 72 minutes and at least two after.
Haiti’s forward #11 Louicius Deedson (R) celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate forward #18 Wilson Isidor during the Concacaf Nations League Cup football match between Dominican Republic and Haiti at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo on October 1, 2026. (Photo by Nelson PULIDO / AFP via Getty Images)
Brett Lyons-Davis (Gut feeling guy) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Brighton 1
Thank *** Sunderland are playing again, an international break that has felt like it’s gone on a lifetime has finally ended, only for another one in 6 weeks time.
Brighton sit third in the league but despite being October - only 5 games in which is too early to look at the table.
However they are no mugs and this will be tight one.
Key differentiator: Wilson Isidor coming back bang in form is probably the only good thing to have happened this break.
Confidence: 5/10
Bold call: All goals will be scored by players wearing Nike boots
Sunderland, United Kingdom - September 16: Omar Alderete of Sunderland AFC looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase match between Sunderland AFC and AZ Alkmaar at Stadium of Light on September 16, 2026 in Sunderland, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ryan Crockett/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Last game thoughts…
The performance against City away, just before all the guilty findings for the hosts, was a great showing but we were sadly not good enough at the back to get anything from the game.
A great hat-trick for Brian will also go without immediate follow up due to what looks like a short term injury, but we are not a one man team and at home we have to hope that the squad depth.
Will Wilson win it for us? Will Juan Angulo get the chance to step up after a similar good showing over the international break?
These are a great team, but so are we.
TOKYO, JAPAN - OCTOBER 05: Juan Riquelme Angulo of Ecuador scores his team’s first goal during the international friendly match between Panama and Ecuador at MUFG Stadium on October 05, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Last game predictions…
There was an understandable air of doubt about the outcome away at The Etihad, with only a few of the lads calling a point or more to come home with us.
Some interesting bold calls were made though, and some of them ended up pretty fruitful.
Predictions table and standings
Matty and Gary are now tied for the top spot, with Malc and Will a few points back in joint third.
Everyone down to Gair is within a perfect 4 point score of the podium, and Jack isnt miles away either
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.