Preview: Sunderland vs Brentford - prediction, team news, lineups

Aiming to win their first two Premier League home games of a season for just the second time ever, Sunderland welcome Brentford to the Stadium of Light for a Saturday afternoon showdown.

The two outfits both boast three points from their opening two clashes but suffered contrasting EFL Cup fortunes in midweek, as the Black Cats were dumped out by Huddersfield Town while the Bees took down Bournemouth.

Match preview

From being on cloud nine to crashing back down to earth, the euphoria from Sunderland's 3-0 Premier League triumph over West Ham United on the opening weekend has quickly died down, as Regis Le Bris's men now seek a response to back-to-back domestic setbacks.

Coming out second best in the scrap between two newly-promoted sides last weekend, the Black Cats fell victim to Jaidon Anthony and Josh Cullen masterclasses against Burnley, as both claimed a goal and assist apiece en route to a 2-0 success.

A further dose of dejection arrived against lower-tier opposition in the EFL Cup on Tuesday evening, where Sunderland needed a late Marc Guiu header to force penalties against Huddersfield, but the Chelsea loanee just delayed his side's elimination as the Terriers prevailed on spot kicks.

However, some may see their side's premature exit as a blessing in disguise - as is the case with almost every club after a knockout defeat - as Sunderland can now prioritise nothing but Premier League matters until the FA Cup rolls around early next year.

Should Le Bris lead Sunderland to another three-point haul on Saturday, the Black Cats would have won their opening two home games of a Premier League season for just the second time after the 2001-02 campaign, when Peter Reid oversaw successes against Ipswich Town and Blackburn Rovers.

On the flip side, while Sunderland are reeling from consecutive defeats after an opening triumph in 2025-26, Brentford have followed up an opening loss in with successive wins to boost their ambitions both league-wise and cup-wise.

Keith Andrews made it second time lucky in the top flight last weekend, as the Bees stung Aston Villa with a 1-0 victory thanks to a debut goal from Dango Ouattara, before Bournemouth succumbed to Brentford's superiority in the EFL Cup.

Fabio Carvalho and Igor Thiago both made the Vitality Stadium nets ripple in a 2-0 triumph for the West London club - who will soon reunite with recent foes Villa in the third round of the competition - as they flexed their muscles on the road once again.

Brentford may have been slain by Nottingham Forest away from home on matchday one, but with 23 points to show from their Premier League road matches in 2025, no side has picked up more on their travels in the current calendar year.

Furthermore, the visitors are on an eight-game winning run in the Premier League against newly-promoted clubs - scoring 28 goals and conceding just six in that time - and Brentford have strung together a five-match unbeaten streak versus Sunderland, although this will be their first head-to-head since 2018.

Sunderland Premier League form:

Sunderland form (all competitions):

Brentford Premier League form:

Brentford form (all competitions):

Team News

Sunderland's cause against Burnley last weekend was not helped by a ninth-minute injury to defensive rock Daniel Ballard, who has now been ruled out until after the September international break due to that groin issue.

Ballard joins Aji Alese (shoulder), Dennis Cirkin (wrist), Luke O'Nien (shoulder), Leo Fuhr Hjelde (calf) and Romain Mundle (thigh) in the Stadium of Light infirmary, while Niall Huggins came off with a groin concern in midweek but has trained since.

New signing Nordi Mukiele played the Ballard role in the EFL Cup, but the former Paris Saint-Germain defender could now make his Premier League debut at right-back as Jenson Seelt starts in the heart of defence.

Brentford did not come out of their victory at Bournemouth unscathed either, as midfielder Frank Onyeka was replaced late on due to a knock, although he was always likely to drop out of the starting XI for Saturday's game anyway.

Onyeka is one of five fitness concerns for Andrews alongside Vitaly Janelt (ankle), Gustavo Nunes (thigh), Paris Maghoma (thigh) and Yunus Konak (ankle), while wantaway attacker Yoane Wissa will not play either.

The DR Congo international has been in team training, and there has been no movement on the Newcastle United transfer front of late, but Andrews has confirmed that he will not be involved.

Sunderland possible starting lineup:

Roefs; Mukiele, Seelt, Alderete, Reinildo; Diarra, Xhaka, Sadiki; Talbi, Mayenda, Adingra

Brentford possible starting lineup:

Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Van den Berg, Lewis-Potter; Henderson, Yarmolyuk; Ouattara, Damsgaard, Schade; Thiago

We say: Sunderland 1-2 Brentford

In the 940th different fixture to be played in the Premier League, Brentford have our vote to prolong their successful streak and simultaneously Sunderland's dampening run of defeats.

The Bees appear to be rediscovering their attacking touch under Andrews, while the absence of Ballard means that Sunderland have lost one of their chief threats in both penalty areas.

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