Double header promises to be very cagey with so much at stake

SUNDERLAND may have come out the resounding winners against Darren Moore’s side the last time the two sides faced each other at the Stadium of Light - but much has changed since then.

The Black Cats thrashed the Owls 5-0 at the Stadium of Light but it was the beginning of the end of Lee Johnson’s reign as head coach.

The result was very much revenge for a dismal display at Hillsborough in the reverse fixture as Moore’s side ran out comfortable 3-0 winners. It is fair to say the double header will be a much cagier affair than both league games this season - but there is a lesson for Sunderland to take from both fixtures.

The Black Cats know they already have a blueprint to beat Wednesday at home, even if January’s signings mean different personnel will take the field.

What has been most impressive about Alex Neil’s side since his arrival is tailoring his game plan for the opposition - and it has paid dividends so far.

The Black Cats have been much better on home soil this season and know they must take advantage of their bumper crowd in the first leg.

The two sides boast similar away records this campaign, Sunderland notching up one point more on their travels than Wednesday.

Moore’s side has picked up the most points at home out of any team in the division, having notched 53 points at home compared to Sunderland’s 51.

Prior to Fulham’s 7-0 demolition of Luton, the Owls had scored the same amount of league goals in 2022 as the free-flowing Championship leaders, an impressive statistic which has gone somewhat under the radar.

Wednesday have netted 48 goals since the turn of the year - the second highest figure across the top four tiers of English football.