League One Betting Tips

Sunderland vs Sheffield Wednesday betting tips: League One play-off semi-final first leg preview, predictions and odds


The two league meetings between these two both produced home wins but, bizarrely, they finished 3-0 at Hillsborough and then 5-0 at the Stadium of Light. The Owls have only won one of their last 11 league visits to Wearside, a 3-1 victory in 2018, a run that dates back to 1969.

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Both teams to score is 4/5.

Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals is 11/8.

Sunderland to win and both teams to score is 9/2.

Ross Stewart is 9/2 to open the scoring and 6/4 to add to his 24 League One goals this season.

Saido Berahino once scored a Premier League brace against Sunderland, netting nine times this season. The Burundi international is 7/1 to break the deadlock and 12/5 to score anytime.

Match preview

Six-times champions of England Sunderland face four-times English champions Sheffield Wednesday, with both aiming for a return to the second-tier.

This was a Premier League fixture as recently as 2000 with Sunderland only relegated from the top division in 2017.

The Black Cats then endured a second successive relegation and have been rooted in League One ever since; this is their fourth campaign at this level.

Alex Neil's side beat Morecambe 1-0 on Saturday, Nathan Broadhead the scorer, a victory that secured their play-off position.

That result means the Black Cats are currently unbeaten in 13 games, winning five of their last six at home.

However, this is their third League One play-off campaign, losing to Charlton in the 2019 final and Lincoln in last season's semis.

In all, this'll be Sunderland's sixth play-off campaign, reaching the final three times previously, but never gaining promotion via this route.

Sheffield Wednesday meanwhile last played in the Premier League in 2000 and are aiming for an instant return to the Championship.

The Owls finished one point and one place above their hosts after hammering Portsmouth 4-1 at Hillsborough on the final day.

Lee Gregory, Saido Berahino, Jordan Storey and George Byers all on target.

This means Darren Moore's men have only lost three of their last 21 matches, only suffering defeat twice at home all season, which bodes well for Monday.

This is Sheffield Wednesday's fourth play-off escapade, gaining promotion from League One back in 2005.

More recently, the Owls were beaten by Hull in the 2016 Championship play-off final before being ousted by Huddersfield in the semi-final 12 months later.

The second leg in West Yorkshire is just three days away but, before then, will either establish a first leg lead at the Stadium of Light?

Sunderland team news

Max Power

Ross Stewart has been Sunderland's star this season, scoring 24 times since arriving from Ross County.

He'll continue to be partnered by Everton loanee Nathan Broadhead in attack.

36 year old Aiden McGeady hasn't featured since 23 November due to a knee injury, but was back on the bench at the weekend so is in contention.

Anthony Patterson will keep his place in goal; he's been the number one since arriving in January, chosen over Bayern Munich loanee Ron-Thorben Hoffmann.

Sheffield Wednesday team news

Hillsborough Stadium

Bailey Peacock-Farrell will be between the sticks for the Owls, hoping to add to his 17 clean sheets this season.

Further forward captain Barry Bannan, who's scored nine goals and racked up 12 assists this season, will be their creative hub.

He'll be looking to supply Lee Gregory and Saido Berahino, both of whom scored in last weekend's win over Portsmouth.

Josh Windass, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Callum Paterson are other attacking options.

Florian Kamberi's season has been blighted by injury.

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Ben Gray

Ben Gray

Arsenal fan – follow them over land and sea (and Leicester); sofa Celtic supporter; a bit of a football '"encyclopedia".


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