English Premier
2026-01-07 - Brentford vs Sunderland
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Wednesday 7th January 2025 - Kick Off 7:30pm
This game is live on TV
Brentford
Igor Thiago has not been in the best goal-scoring form, but he scored a hat-trick in a stunning Brentford win on Sunday. The 2-4 victory at the Hill Dickinson Stadium was yet another example of an upset in the Premier League that would have been difficult to call, and it has Keith Andrews guiding Brentford up into the European places in the Division.
The Bees are 7th in the Premier League table after the last round of results and they are only a point outside of the top five places, which could mean Champions League Football. That is a dream for a club like Brentford, but earning a spot in any UEFA competition will be a big achievement and the side can push along by improving the 6-3-1 record at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Brentford have lost 1 of the last 6 games in all competitions and they have won 3 of the last 4 Premier League fixtures following the impressive win at Everton. The goalless draw with Tottenham Hotspur means Brentford are unbeaten in 6 at home, although 2 of the last 3 here have ended in draws.
The squad looks unchanged from the one that travelled to the North West.
Sunderland
Regis Le Bris has to be a leading contender for 'Manager of the Season' and all credit has to be given to him and the Coaching staff for the way they have made sure Sunderland have not dropped standards. There will still be some expecting a poor run at some point, but the squad is going to be bolstered in the next couple of weeks as key players return from the African Cup of Nations and that should keep things steady.
Finishing above Newcastle United would be considered a massive achievement in the first season back in the Premier League, but Sunderland are 8th in the table and earning a spot in European competition is not beyond them. The Black Cats earned a draw in the capital on Sunday and now have a 2-4-4 away record in the top flight.
Sunderland fought back for a 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur and that means they have lost 1 of the last 8 Premier League games played, while the last 4 have all ended in draws. Despite losing a number of key players to international duty, Sunderland have drawn 3 of the last 4 away Premier League games.
Wilson Isidor is hoping to be available to travel, but Brian Brobbey is going to be given the start up front.
Head to Head
Sunderland came from behind to beat Brentford 2-1 at the Stadium of Light earlier this season.
These two clubs last met in a match hosted by Brentford in October 2017 when both were playing in the Championship and that ended 3-3.
Prediction
They very much look like a team that is going to be far too good to be relegated back into the Championship, but there are going to be room for improvement for Sunderland as they move into the 2026 calendar year.
Regis Le Bris would like to see his team create more quality chances, but he may feel that will be possible when the entire squad is back together.
What Sunderland have shown is plenty of resilience in recent weeks and they will look to frustrate the hosts in this one as the team look to maintain a strong run of results. Draws have been the leading result in recent Sunderland matches, and they will certainly feel they can manage something similar here against a Brentford team that have drawn 2 of the last 3 at home.
An inexperienced Keith Andrews has more than held his own at the Premier League level of management and his Brentford team have to be highly respected.
There have been plenty of strong results produced in recent weeks and fans will be hoping that they can push into the European places, although Brentford will know there is plenty of football to be played between now and May.
Brentford have found ways to win matches, but they have not been as convincing in the last three home games as they have been previously. They were fortunate to earn a draw with Leeds United before a back and forth game with Bournemouth and another draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
Credit has to be given for the way Brentford have attacked at times and Sunderland are going to have weather a couple of difficult periods within this match. They had to do the same at the Stadium of Light when hosting Brentford back in August, but you cannot ignore the resilience that The Black Cats are showing game after game.
This looks like yet another very difficult fixture to call with any certainty, but backing Sunderland on the Asian Handicap that will return half the stake in the case of a narrow loss looks a decent approach. They have been well beaten at Manchester United and Manchester City, but Sunderland have largely been very competitive throughout this campaign and they do not look like a team that will roll over easily, while Brentford have just slowed slightly at home.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Brentford 1-1 Sunderland
