Championship experts claim one team in ‘really difficult’ moment with Bristol City vs Sunderland prediction

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With everything still to play for as the Championship season reaches its climax, attention turns to Bristol City vs Sunderland on Friday afternoon with the outcome set to impact the play-off places.

Bristol City remain inside the play-off places ahead of the Championship’s match week 43, with Liam Manning’s side four points clear of seventh place West Brom in the Championship table going into Easter weekend.

The Robins are being hunted by West Brom and Middlesbrough, meaning three points is the minimum Manning’s men need to achieve.

Sunderland however, travel to Ashton Gate on Friday with a play-off place mathematically guaranteed following Regis Le Bris’ side’s stalemate at Norwich City last week.

With the Black Cats’ play-off fate secure, and the play-off chasing pack hot on the Robins’ tail, who will come away from Ashton Gate with all three points?

• READ MORE: Sunderland star Trai Hume tops Championship rivals in impressive statistic

Bristol City get pundit’s backing for Sunderland clash

Discussing the upcoming fixture on the Championship Check-In Podcast, pundits Benjamin Bloom and Sam Parkin predicted it to be a difficult afternoon for Le Bris’ visitors.

Sunderland are struggling to create chances, and goalscoring matters will not be helped by Wilson Isidor’s goal drought, or that Roma loanee Enzo Le Fee is likely not to start for the Black Cats on Friday amid his recent from injury.

Bristol City are no longer the play-off underdogs and will want to send a serious statement of intent to their fellow play-off hopefuls.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
3	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	42	26	7	9	57	33	24	83
4	SunderlandSunderland	42	21	13	8	57	38	19	76
5	Bristol CityBristol City	42	16	16	10	54	45	9	64
6	CoventryCoventry	42	18	9	15	59	54	5	63
7	West BromWest Brom	42	14	18	10	51	39	12	60

Parkin said: “2-1 Bristol City. I think it’s difficult for Sunderland players, really difficult. This really peculiar period that they’re in right now, knowing that they’re in the playoffs, how to go about it.

“Unknown territory, I would imagine, for a lot of the lads and also the coach. So I’ll go for Bristol City to win again at home, where they’ve been really, really good.”

Bloom however, believes that Sunderland will take a point home from Ashton Gate.

He said: “I’ll go for a 1-1. I totally agree with you on Sunderland in they’ve just got to kind of keep it ticking over and set themselves for the tournament football.

“I think that might actually be a problem for Bristol City because I don’t much like their fixtures after this. I think they go back-to-back away and then they’re back home on round 46.

“So they could really do with the win. But what we’ll say about Bristol City and Coventry, they’ve got a cushion. So whatever happens in 43, Bristol City will be in the top six going into 44.”

As stated by Bloom, given the gap between Bristol City and the Baggies, Manning’s side will go into their Easter Monday trip to relegation-threatened Luton Town still in the top-six no matter the result against Sunderland.

• READ MORE: Where are Tony Mowbray’s 22/23 play-off first leg Sunderland squad now

Sunderland’s predicted starting XI bodes well for Bristol City

Le Bris is desperate to avoid another injury setback for Roma loanee Le Fee and is set to keep the Frenchman on the bench as he was against Norwich and in their recent defeat to Swansea.

Sunderland fans believe he’s their “only hope” for promotion success which bodes well for Manning not to contend with the inventive midfield from the start on Friday.

Borussia Dortmund-linked Jobe Bellingham has missed those last two outings with a minor knock and Le Bris will be reticent to force the former Birmingham City youngster back in too early ahead of the play-off campaign.

With Le Bris having one eye on the Black Cats’ certain play-off campaign, and Manning’s side desperate to mathematically secure their own top-six spot, the context around the clash would point towards Parkin’s prediction of a Bristol City home victory over Sunderland.