The Black Cats are now dealing with Jack Clarke’s ankle ligament issue, which has forced him to miss games.
This is a big blow for the Wearside club, who have seen the ex-Spurs player score 15 goals and provide four assists in 35 competitive games.
That is a really good record, and they have severely missed the 23-year-old.
The Black Cats also lack a permanent manager, having fired Mick Beale last month and replaced by Mike Dodds, who appears to be in charge for the balance of the 2023/24 season.
The club may reconsider if results do not improve, as Dodds has lost all four of his games in charge during this interim period.
Fortunately for Dodds and his players, the club is all but secure, and their major objective now will be to generate momentum for next season, as a top-six finish appears doubtful.
QPR, on the other hand, are only one point above the drop zone at the moment and must widen the gap between themselves and the bottom three in order to have the best chance of remaining in the Championship beyond the end of the season.
A win tomorrow could be crucial for the R’s as they attempt to maintain their lead above Birmingham City and Huddersfield Town.
David Prutton predicts: Sunderland v QPR
Despite their awful losing record, the Black Cats enjoy the home advantage and are higher up the league standings.
However, Prutton has supported the R’s to win this battle, saying on Sky Sports: “Sunderland has now suffered six
defeats in a row. It is troubling times, and Mike Dodds must find a way to turn things around before they fall much farther.
“QPR were beaten at home by Middlesbrough last time out, but need to rally because they are still in the thick of a relegation battle and this is a very winnable fixture – which I think they’ll take three points from.”
Sunderland need to stop the rot
If the Black Cats do not improve, they risk ending the season on a bad note.
They are nearly safe, but if they continue to lose, the atmosphere at the Stadium of Light will not improve.
Some wins are required between now and the conclusion of the season, but tomorrow may be difficult for them because QPR have a lot more to play for.
However, some players, notably Jobe Bellingham (shown above), who recently scored a fantastic goal against Southampton, have the potential to make a difference for Dodds.
The hosts are well capable of winning three points on Wearside tomorrow.
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