“‘They Don’t Stand a Chance?’ – Merson and Sutton’s Sunderland Prediction Sparks Outrage!”

Sunderland vs Brentford: Merson and Sutton Predict Tough Test for Black Cats

Sunderland welcome Brentford to the Stadium of Light on Saturday in Premier League action, but pundits Paul Merson and Chris Sutton are both predicting a difficult afternoon for the hosts.

After an impressive 3-0 win over West Ham on the opening day, Sunderland came crashing back to earth with a 2-0 loss away at Burnley. Despite a bright start at Turf Moor, Regis Le Bris’ side couldn’t maintain their momentum and left empty-handed.

Brentford, meanwhile, had a shaky start under new manager Keith Andrews, losing 3-1 to Nottingham Forest in his first game. However, they’ve since bounced back with a 1-0 win over Aston Villa and a 2-0 Carabao Cup victory against Bournemouth — signs that the team is beginning to find its rhythm.

Taking those performances into account, both Merson and Sutton have backed Brentford to edge this one, predicting a 1-0 win for the visitors.

What Paul Merson Said

In his weekly Sportskeeda column, Merson praised Brentford’s resilience and recent form.

“This will be a good contest. Brentford deserve credit for their win over Aston Villa — they showed real grit. Despite the negativity leading up to that match, they pulled through with three points.

Sunderland had a dream start against West Ham, but Burnley was a reality check. I didn’t think they played that badly — they were better in the first half — but this is going to be another tough challenge.”

What Chris Sutton Said

Speaking to BBC Sport, Sutton echoed Merson’s thoughts, citing Brentford’s experience and recent confidence boost.

“Sunderland started strong against West Ham and were competitive at Burnley, even though they lost. Brentford’s win at Aston Villa was huge for Keith Andrews.

I know some have written them off, but they’re a seasoned Premier League team. That win last week will have lifted them. I think they’ll win again on Saturday.”

Want more Sunderland updates? Join The Echo’s SAFC WhatsApp channel here for the latest news, injury updates, and analysis straight to your phone.