Now simply cantering towards the Championship playoffs, Sunderland host top-six outsiders Blackburn Rovers at the Stadium of Light on Easter Monday.
Regis Le Bris's 10 men fell short against Bristol City on Good Friday, while their visitors kept their wafer-thin playoff hopes alive by thumping Millwall 4-1 on home soil.
Match preview
© Imago
Bristol City and Sunderland's Ashton Gate battle on April 18 was only 11v11 for a full seven minutes, as defender Trai Hume took the walk of shame for a last-man foul, which head coach Le Bris labelled "harsh" at the full-time whistle.
The playoff-bound Black Cats still defied their numerical disadvantage to strike first through Eliezer Mayenda's eighth goal of the season on the counter-attack, but Bristol City made their extra man count in the second half as Rob Dickie and Ross McCrorie turned the tide.
However, any events that take place for the remainder of the Championship season are largely trivial for the fourth-placed hosts, who are guaranteed to be present in the playoffs but cannot crack the automatic promotion places with just three games left to go.
Le Bris's side could do with regaining some much-needed momentum before the post-season, though, having only taken one point from their last nine on offer in the Championship, while also scoring a meagre four goals in their last seven contests.
Furthermore, while Sunderland have been beaten just twice at home in the 2024-25 Championship season, both of those losses have come in their last five matches at the Stadium of Light, and the Black Cats have also suffered defeat in each of their last three home games played on Easter Monday.
© Imago
In contrast, the April festivities usually bring cheer to the travelling Blackburn supporters, who have witnessed their side lose just one of their last 12 league away games on Easter Monday, where they memorably demolished Sunderland 5-1 in this exact fixture last season.
Rovers could still sneak into the playoffs alongside their upcoming hosts, having made it back-to-back wins with a 4-1 crushing of Millwall on Good Friday, where Sondre Tronstad struck twice alongside efforts from Dominic Hyam and Callum Brittain at Ewood Park.
Finally finding their feet under Valerien Ismael - who had failed to win any of his first seven games at the helm after his appointment in February - Blackburn now reside in 10th place in the Championship table, seven points below the playoff spots with just three games left.
A minor miracle would therefore be required for the former Premier League champions to crack the top six, a fanciful scenario given that Rovers have lost seven of their last nine Championship away matches, scoring a mere six goals in the process.
As mentioned, however, Rovers were irresistible in a 5-1 pummelling of Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in April 2024, although they needed a late Harry Leonard leveller to steal a point from a 2-2 draw with the Black Cats earlier this campaign.
Team News
© Imago
Regardless of what Le Bris made of Hume's sending-off against Bristol City, he will have to cope without the 23-year-old on Monday as he serves a one-match ban, a particularly problematic absence given the lack of other right-backs in the squad.
Luke O'Nien has deputised in that position before so may be the first port of call for Le Bris, who is still missing defensive duo Niall Huggins (knee) and Aji Alese (leg), so Joe Anderson could be drafted in if O'Nien is required at right-back.
The in-demand Chris Rigg has found the net in both of his last two games against Blackburn, and the 17-year-old could now become just the third Under-18 player to score in three successive Championship games against a single opponent after Ryan Sessegnon (vs. Cardiff City) and Connor Wickham (vs. Doncaster Rovers).
While Sunderland have lost one man to suspension, Blackburn welcome one of their own back from the naughty step, as Kristi Montgomery returns after being sent off for two bookable offences on his full debut against Luton Town.
However, Montgomery's replacement at the weekend - goalscorer Brittain - will surely not cede his spot in the first XI, and Ismael ought to stick with the same outfield formula unless tired legs force his hand.
In goal, however, Aynsley Pears is primed to return over Balazs Toth, having made the bench on Good Friday following an Achilles concern.
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; O'Nien, Mepham, Anderson, Hjelde; Neil, Bellingham; Roberts, Rigg, Isidor; Mayenda
Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Pears; Brittain, Batth, Hyam, Ribeiro; Travis, Tronstad; Dolan, Cantwell, Hedges; Ohashi
We say: Sunderland 1-1 Blackburn Rovers
Whether Blackburn's goal-laden Good Friday display is a catalyst for better things to come remains to be seen, but Rovers have been found wanting in front of goal away from home for several weeks now.
Couple that with a Sunderland side whose recent games have been low in entertainment value, this Easter Monday battle has a low-scoring draw written all over it for us.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
