Sky Sports pundit issues Norwich City vs Sunderland AFC prediction | OneFootball

Don Goodman has found the upcoming encounter hard to call

Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman has admitted that he has found the upcoming encounter between Sunderland and Norwich City at the Stadium of Light a hard game to predict.

The Canaries and the Black Cats have been two of the standout sides in the Championship so far for their attacking intent, with Johannes Hoff Thorup's side currently the second-highest scorers in the division behind Middlesbrough, whilst Regis Le Bris' youth-inspired outfit have also notched 32 goals in the opening 21 encounters.

However, the home side have largely been inconsistent throughout the opening months of the Dane's tenure at Carrow Road, having accumulated just six victories and 26 points thus far - the bulk of which have come on home soil.

Meanwhile, Sunderland come into this clash on a run of just one defeat in their last 14 games, which came away to league leaders Sheffield United last month, having come from 2-0 down at Swansea City last time out to emerge 3-2 victors with goals from Daniel Ballard, Dan Neil and Jobe Bellingham.

All of the above ingredients make for a pulsating encounter between two of the division's big hitters, and in Goodman's case, also makes it tough to pinpoint a winner.

Don Goodman drops prediction for "huge game" between Sunderland and Norwich City

Despite his affiliation to the North East side, having made 116 appearances for the club between 1991 and 1994, Goodman has erred on the side of caution when previewing the weekend's game, stating that it holds much more significance for Norwich and the overall picture of their season.

“This is a huge game for Norwich City. They find themselves in 12th and if they lose and certain results go against them, they could be 11 points off sixth place. It's a bigger game for Norwich who are far better at home than they are away," the EFL pundit explained to CoinPoker.

“Sunderland, however, are well-established in the top six. They're hard to beat away from home with just one defeat in seven. That loss was at Bramall Lane when I thought they were possibly better than Sheffield United and were unlucky to lose," he continued.

Goodman concluded by stating : “It's hard to split the two teams.”

A tight game could be expected between Norwich City and Sunderland

As Goodman stated, a defeat for Norwich, depending on other results, and Hoff Thorup's side, who finished in the top six under David Wagner last term, could find themselves cut even further adrift from the likes of Sunderland, who will look to edge ever closer to the automatic promotion spots with a victory.

16 of the Canaries' 26 points have been accumulated at Carrow Road this term, as well as 26 of their 36 goals, highlighting the difference in form in comparison to their away record, having only won two of eleven on their travels, whilst facing a Black Cats side who are unbeaten on Wearside thus far.

However, they are more than capable of posing a threat, possessing the league's current top scorer in Borja Sainz among their ranks, with the Spaniard having a remarkable 15 goals to his name already.

However, the quality within the Sunderland ranks cannot be overlooked, as the pace and power of Wilson Isidor alongside the creative forces such as Chris Rigg, Patrick Roberts and Jobe Bellingham could cause several problems to a Norwich side who have also conceded on 32 occasions this term.

Given all of the above, it is understandable why the pundit, and so many outsiders, will find this game a tough one to call.