Sunderland v Swansea: Nothing to choose between form sides

Martin O’Neill’s improving Sunderland take on Swansea in a meeting of two sides in tremendous form in the Premier League.

Sunderland are 5/6 to claim the victory at the Stadium of Light, and having achieved five wins in the eight games played since O’Neill took charge, the home side could be a good option at this price.

Brendan Rodgers’ travellers have the worst away record in the league, winning just once on the road to justify their lengthy 10/3 price, but their aesthetically pleasing football is paying dividends on home soil, and the Swans find themselves in the top half of the table, two points better off than their hosts.

12/5 is on offer for the draw, and taking into account that four of Sunderland’s six stalemates have come at home, and the fact that their visitors have attained three one-point hauls from their travels, this outcome looks a real possibility.

Also lending weight to this suggestion is the fact that the sides played out a 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.

While neither side are prolific goalscorers, leaning towards a score draw occurring here may be profitable, with the ruthless nature of Sunderland’s play matching up to the patient penetration demonstrated so well by Swansea.

11/2 is the price attributed to a 1-1 draw but a 2-2 scoreline has appeal at a big 14/1.

Punters who instead feel that a narrow home win is on the cards could be tempted by the 5/2 odds available for Sunderland to win with two or fewer goals to be scored in the match.

What also looks a terrific price is the 1/1 that both teams score in the game, especially considering that there is little to choose between each sides’ goal difference.

Stephane Sessegnon has impressed in recent weeks for the Black Cats, and is 9/2 to score first here, but set-piece specialist Sebastian Larsson has claims at 8/1, while Swansea penalty taker Scott Sinclair could also be worth a punt at 7/1.