Stats at a glance: Leeds (H) Premier League: 25/10/2026
Average home goals predicted: 1.25
Average away goals predicted: 0.62
Confidence of Roker Report’s writers: 5/10
Predicting a win for the Lads: 50%
Martin Wanless (Cautious Optimist) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Leeds 1
While a point away in Europe isn’t a bad result, and the performance was a bit better, it wasn’t the type of display that gives you huge confidence that all wrongs have been righted.
Our finishing was appalling and we conceded some easy chances too, so we need to hope we make a further step in the right direction today.
Leeds are a good side, and it’ll be a tough task to get a result but hopefully we’ll get something.
Key differentiator: Robin Roefs — he can keep us in the game
Confidence: 3/10
Bold call: Eight yellow cards to be dished out
Malc Dugdale (Scarred happy clapper) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Leeds 0
If we can defend better, we showed in the week that we can create a lot. It’s just a case of continuing the progress with both aspects, scoring more than we miss, and we can get back to being ourselves.
This will be a tight game for me and while it’s far from a ‘must win’ when we’re still less than ten games into the season, we can’t let the rot set in as this will both impact morale and put Régis Le Bris at risk — he deserves way more time than nine or ten games this season.
Hopefully we have Brian Brobbey back and they don’t have Dominic Calvert-Lewin, though both players are subject to speculation about fitness.
Let’s get the Stadium of Light back to being a home fortress with a clean sheet and a win, and shut down all these doom-mongers for a short while at least.
Key differentiator: Brobbey up front and a resurgent Robin Roefs at the back, and we can take on anyone.
Confidence: 5/10
Bold call: One set piece goal will decide this either way, but hopefully in our favour.
Jack Howe-Gingell (Eternal optimist) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Leeds 1
It’s one of those people are shouting about being a “must win” but a draw against an in-form Leeds team would be a great result (provided we can go to Coventry and win!).
That said, I still fancy us to steal this one.
I’m expecting an intense game and I think our fans will be edgy. We showed signs of life against Poznań, but we were too wasteful and it cost us the three points.
Leeds will be a much better standard of opponent, and I have to hope we’ll be up to the task.
Key differentiator: It’ll feel like a low-key derby on Sunday in my opinion, and despite reservations I think the players will go hard and amp the crowd up.
Confidence: 6/10
Bold call: Both of our goals will be from set pieces.
“Champion” Will Jones (Heart over head) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Leeds 1
A decent point in Poznań on Thursday, and hopefully something we can build on going into Sunday.
We’ve had a mixed few weeks, but there were signs of a bit more fight in Europe, and now we need to bring that back to the Stadium of Light.
Leeds will make it a proper battle, and I can see this being a tight one with neither side giving much away. The home crowd should give us a lift, but after the European trip, I reckon we might have to settle for a point.
Key differentiator: Whoever wins the midfield battle and keeps their head in what could be a scrappy game.
Confidence: 5/10
Bold call: Our goal comes from a defender who hasn’t scored for Sunderland before.
Matty Foster (Pragmatist) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 0 Leeds 0
I honestly go into this not knowing what to predict.
Leeds have a good start, only losing to Arsenal so far. Our league form isn’t great, but I’m trying not to fall into a negative state of mind.
They’ve drawn most of their fixtures, and to go entirely “middle of the road”, I’m predicting more of the same again.
Key differentiator: Whether Brian Brobbey is playing or not. I don’t envisage us scoring without him.
Confidence: 4/10
Bold call: The woodwork will be hit on three or more occasions.
Anthony Gair (Depreciating optimist) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Leeds 0
In a game which is a very early “must win” for the mighty wizards, I think we’ll finally start hitting the target against a depleted — and hopefully toothless without Dominic Calvert-Lewin — Leeds side.
I think we’ll come out all guns blazing, with the lads absolutely riled up and prepared to die for the shirt.
It may lead to a lack of discipline at the back, but I think we’ll have enough to beat this incredibly impressive, Leeds team.
Key differentiator: The crowd need to stay patient, support the lads and not get on their backs if they make an error.
Confidence: 7/10
Bold call: There’ll be a red card in this one.
Gary Winter (Glass almost empty) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Leeds 1
It’s probably too soon to be calling out “must win” games this early in the season, as I do believe there’s plenty of time to turn the ship around — the sooner the better, though.
Today feels really important, and a win would lift the mounting pressure and buy us just a little breathing space. Dread has already crept in more than it should, so a loss is hard to digest as, rightly or wrongly, panic will crank up several notches.
Key differentiator: We could do with a really energetic performance, but after another away trip in Europe, I think the distance travelled will make that difficult.
Confidence: 5/10
Bold call:One or more goals scored between 15-30 minutes and one or more goals scored between 45-65 minutes.
Brett Lyons-Davis (Gut feeling guy) says…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2Leeds 1
We go again — we need a win, simple as that.
The lads did put on a much better performance in Poland and it was refreshing to see some shots and we could/should’ve scored more. Defensively, we did look vulnerable and had Robin Roefs not been on his game, we would be talking about another defeat.
Key differentiator: Brian Brobbey.
Confidence: 5/10
Bold call: Despite the game being between two tough Northern teams, there will be at least one goal scored by a player wearing gloves.
Last game thoughts…
Most will agree we should’ve beaten Lech Poznan in the week, but when we opened the game with our lone striker being Timor Tutierov due to wider injuries, scoring goals was always going to be a challenge.
I was chuffed at him getting off the mark, but that should’ve been his second, as he made clear in his post-match interviews.
Robin Roefs had a blinder and saved our blushes by helping us to an away draw, which many maybe would’ve taken before a ball was kicked since we already have two wins in the competition. A few players also put themselves in the first team shop window again, especially the likes of Jules Ahoka.
Today’s challenge will be much sterner and we’ll have to bring all the best bits of our Europa campaign and minimal evidence of our errors and self-destructive moments to get a win against the White Rose.
Who’s fit and who isn’t will be vital, too.
Last game predictions…
Four of the lads correctly called the somewhat deflating draw, but ‘Bold Call’ points were lacking this time around.
The form of Grafter Gair continues to impress, with last seasons basement dweller continuing gathering points and holding on to the leaders as we move towards the ten games in the Premier League point.
Predictions table and standings
Gary and Matty continue their battle for top spot, with Gair chasing them down and hoping for mistakes to challenge for the lead.
The peloton between fourth and seventh will also be hoping the leading lads slip up to allow the gap to close.
Jack is now eleven points off the top, and much like our mighty Mackems, he needs to start getting some good performances in to stop the rot and not drift too far from those above, albeit at an early juncture.
How the points are awarded
Just a quick reminder of how we allocate points to our match-by-match predictions:
- Correct score = Three points
- Correct outcome (but not correct score) = One point
- Correct Bold Call = One point
- Possible deductions for repeatedly not submitting on time = a two-point deduction.