Sunderland v Fulham: Tough to separate inconsistent pair

With eight Premier League draws apiece recorded so far this season, a stalemate between Sunderland and Fulham looks the most likely outcome at 23/10.

The hosts are only five points adrift of the drop zone, after three consecutive defeats followed a brief upturn in form.

And their pressing need for a victory could lead some punters to side with them at 6/5, as could the 3-1 win they achieved at Craven Cottage earlier this season.

But against a side that has become difficult to beat on the road, having lost fewer than half of their away fixtures this term, the draw looks a more realistic result.

Three of the past six encounters of the pairing have ended level, and each finished with a 0-0 scoreline.

A goalless draw is 7/1 here, whilst a stalemate featuring less than 2.5 goals is a 14/5 hope.

Of course, those three draws saw nothing separate the sides at both half-time and full-time, and it is 4/1 that a repeat of that trend ensues here.

But whilst a stalemate appears the most likely outcome, punters may find some value in the 4/6 regarding Fulham in handicap markets.

The Cottagers are that price when giving up a goal head-start, which will appeal to cautious punters who fancy the visitors to take at least a point.

A bigger 9/4 to simply win the match, Martin Jol’s side’s record of only two away triumphs this term should be a deterrent to this price.

Although a low-scoring affair appears in prospect meanwhile, it may be worth noting that both teams have found the net on the past two occasions these sides have met.

It is 4/5 that each team registers in the match, whilst the score draw is a 16/5 prospect.

With both sides drawing blanks eight times this term though, and drawing that amount of games each also, the 0-0 draw looks the standout bet regarding this fixture, at that tempting 7/1.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.