Prediction and odds for the game: Sheffield Wednesday (Evens) vs Sunderland (14/5)

We are backing the home win

When: Monday 9 May 2022, Kick-off 19:45

Where: Hillsborough

On Monday night, Sheffield Wednesday hosts Sunderland in the League One play-offs semi-final second leg. The first leg at the Stadium of Light finished 1-0 for the north east team, so there is still all to play for in this clash.

Sheffield Wednesday

The Owls will be disappointed with the first leg defeat, but the Yorkshire team will know that the tie is far from over. After just one season in the third tier, Darren Moore’s team is looking for an instant return to the Championship. Before relegation last season the home team had spent 14 years in the second tier of English football.

The first leg defeat was a rare one for Wednesday, as they had previously suffered just one defeat in their previous 11 games in League One.

The Yorkshire outfit will be confident of turning the one-goal deficit around, as the Owls have a good recent home record in the English third tier. Wednesday are unbeaten in their last eight home games in the league, having recorded six victories in the process. They have also scored at least two goals in six of the eight unbeaten home matches.

Sunderland

Alex Neil’s team finished a point behind Wednesday in the Championship last season after a good run of form towards the end of the campaign. In fact, the first leg wins that the Black Cats are unbeaten in their last 14 matches in the second tier. That record includes winning three of their last four league games.

Their recent outings in League One have been relatively low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in four of their last five matches. A record of three clean sheets from their last five League One matches is a respectable one.

Sunderland are unbeaten in their last seven away games in the third tier of English football. However, four of their unbeaten seven matches have ended in draws. A draw would be enough to see the north east side through to the all-important play-off final.

The Black Cats are desperate to escape the third tier, as this is their fourth season in League One, having played in the Premier League as recently as 2017.

Conclusion

Both teams ended the regular league season in decent form and there was not much between them in the final table. Although Sunderland won the first leg, we fancy Sheffield Wednesday to record a victory in a tight, low-scoring encounter, which may need extra time or penalties to decide the winner of the tie. With that in mind, we are backing the home win and under 2.5 goals scored.

Our Tips: We are backing the Sheffield Wednesday at evens and under 2.5 goals scored at odds of 3/4 (All odds are taken from Bet365).

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