- 1 Sunderland vs Hull City: four points to seven, and the promoted side arrive in form
- 2 Sunderland: solid character, but the pecking order is still shifting
- 3 Hull City: three clean sheets on the spin and a cup curse
- 4 Football prediction Sunderland vs Hull City
- 5 First, a quick word on our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your role
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Sunderland vs Hull City: four points to seven, and the promoted side arrive in form 
The Stadium of Light hosts an EFL Cup third-round tie between two Premier League clubs on Tuesday, September 8. Kick-off is set for 7:45pm UK time, which is 8:45pm in France.
Sunderland come into it with four points from a possible nine in the league. Hull City have seven, a return few saw coming from a newly promoted side at the start of the season.
The contrast in momentum is obvious. The Black Cats are still trying to find their attacking rhythm, while the Tigers are rolling on with a level of defensive steel you do not often see at this level.
This fixture lands in the middle of a packed spell for the hosts. Between Arsenal and Manchester City in the league, Regis Le Bris also has to get his side ready for their European bow against AZ Alkmaar.
The two clubs have taken very different routes to this point. Sunderland were given a free pass through the second round because of their European qualification, while Hull had to knock out Stoke City on penalties.
They have met only twice in this competition. Sunderland won 2-1 in 1961-62, and Hull edged a shootout six years ago in the first round.
The real story tonight is in the teamsheets. Both managers will make changes, and the result will depend largely on which squad has the deeper support.
Sunderland: solid character, but the pecking order is still shifting 
Four points from three Premier League matches is Sunderland’s early return. They lost at Ipswich Town to begin with, then beat Fulham 1-0 before drawing 0-0 at Brentford last weekend.
That last result said a lot about the mood in the camp. Trailing shortly after the break, Le Bris’s side clawed back a point through Enzo Le Fee’s late penalty.
That knack for responding is no fluke. Since their return to the top flight last summer, no English club has picked up more points after going behind.
It was that mentality, in large part, that got Sunderland into Europe back in May. Their Europa League campaign begins at the Stadium of Light with a visit from AZ Alkmaar.
The defensive unit has been reshaped over the summer and is still working things out. Kevin Danso got his first minutes at Brentford, while Omar Alderete could come back into the centre of defence on Tuesday night.
One absence carries more weight than most in midfield. Habib Diarra, who picked up a hamstring injury against Fulham, is out for the next two months and leaves Le Bris without his most physical link man.
The Frenchman is likely to give minutes to some of his squad players, including Malick Fofana, signed on deadline day. The club’s priorities are clear enough: the league and the European assignment ahead.
Try it for $0.99.
Hull City: three clean sheets on the spin and a cup curse 
Seven points from three Premier League games for a promoted side is a number worth noticing. Hull City beat Manchester United 2-0, then won 1-0 at Coventry City before holding Aston Villa on Saturday.
That goalless draw reinforced the bigger picture. It was the third straight match they had gone through without conceding, a run that underlines the work Sergej Jakirovic has done.
The Bosnian coach was happy to let Aston Villa have the ball. His side stayed compact for 90 minutes, and that discipline has been the backbone of Hull’s start.
But their EFL Cup record tells a very different story. Hull have not won in normal time in this competition across their last 10 attempts, with all three victories in that spell coming via penalties.
The previous round followed the same script. Stoke City were beaten after a 1-1 draw and a shootout, and Hull have not reached the fourth round since 2016.
The injury list is still long for the visitors. Jack Butland, Oscar Zambrano, Charlie Hughes, Darko Gyabi and Hidemasa Morita are all out, while Joe Gelhardt has returned to full training.
Deadline day did at least hand Jakirovic a few extra options. Tim Iroegbunam, Robinio Vaz, Sorba Thomas and Brooke Norton-Cuffy all arrived on the final day, and the last of those could come in at right wing-back for Lewie Coyle.
Probable Sunderland XI: Ellborg ; Mukiele, Alderete, O’Nien, Methalie ; Ahoka, Sadiki ; Hume, Le Fee, Fofana ; Isidor
Probable Hull City XI: Tzolakis ; Egan, McNair, Herrington ; Norton-Cuffy, Iroegbunam, Hjerto-Dahl, Targett ; Thomas, Millar ; Cho
Football prediction Sunderland vs Hull City
Our prediction: Hull City to win
Sunderland’s schedule makes it hard for Regis Le Bris to risk too many regulars. With two big Premier League games either side and a first European outing to prepare for, this cup tie comes at a bad time for the Black Cats.
Hull City, by contrast, have been strengthened by four deadline-day signings, which gives Jakirovic room to rotate without weakening his side too much. Three straight clean sheets against Manchester United, Coventry City and Aston Villa give the promoted club a base most newcomers can only dream of.
The call here is about squad depth, not status. Back Hull City to beat Sunderland.
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
_________
First, a quick word on our free predictions
- What we publish on mathodds is analysis, nothing more. We are giving an opinion, a read on the moment, but never a guarantee. Sport is what it is: unpredictable. A red card, an injury, a freak goal… and the script changes completely.
- Let’s be clear: there is no risk-free bet. Even when something looks obvious, it never truly is. And yes, that means you can lose. In fact, you will, sooner or later.
- The best approach is to stay sensible. Bet small, set a budget and stick to it. Do not touch money you need to live on. And above all: do not chase losses, because that rarely ends well.
- A bet should stay a game, not a job or a source of income. If you feel it is taking up too much space in your life, making you angry or putting you under pressure, take a break. And if needed, speak to a specialist support group. That is what they are there for.
- In the end, responsibility is yours. Reading our content means accepting that risk exists and will never disappear, even with the best analysis in the world.
- Key reminder: betting is illegal for minors and must follow the law in your country. Gambling can go wrong fast (money loss, family tension, addiction). Need Help? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. In the UK? Visit https://www.gambleaware.org/https://www.gambleaware.org/.
No commitment from us
Our predictions are not a contract. They have no legal force. In plain terms: you cannot use them to claim anything if a bet loses.
Information changes
A prediction is always based on what we know when it is written. But then a team sheet changes, a player gets injured, the weather turns… and the analysis can be out of date very quickly. We cannot be held responsible for that.
Your role
Before you bet, simply check that gambling is legal where you live. If it is not, that is your responsibility, not ours.
Responsible gambling first
We cannot say it enough: play in moderation. If you struggle to keep control, do not wait to ask for help. We cannot be responsible for compulsive or excessive use of the information published on the site.
Legal age
mathodds content is for adults only. By using this site, you confirm you are of legal age to bet.
About the images…
The Sunderland and Hull City images and logos shown on mathodds, including those linked to the EFL Cup, are there only to illustrate our articles. They do not mean we have any official link with a federation or sports body, and we claim no rights over them.
Those rights belong to the original creators. If, despite our care, an image is a problem, contact us: it will be removed without delay.
Our only aim with these images is to make the reading experience better. Nothing more. No commercial gain, no taking credit for other people’s work.
Leave a Reply