JUST IN: The score for Middlesbrough vs. Sunderland is predicted by a Sky Sports analyst.

On Sunday, Sunderland will travel a short distance to the northeast to play Middlesbrough in the Championship.

This weekend, Sunderland and Middlesbrough, neighbors, square off in the Tees-Wear rivalry.

The Black Cats are already in seventh place in the standings, but if they win, Boro, who are in eleventh place, might catch up to Michael Beale’s team on points.

Despite a much-needed 3-1 victory over Stoke City at the Stadium of Light last time out, Michael Beale is still a man under considerable pressure.

Middlesbrough, led by Michael Carrick, enters this match fresh off a 6-1 loss to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semifinal.

David Prutton predicts Sunderland vs Middlesbrough.
And Sunday’s match prediction came from Sky Sports expert David Prutton:

“Middlesbrough had to swallow a bitter pill in the Carabao Cup. It was frustrating to see all that hard work from the first leg unravel in the second match at Chelsea. There was no time to think about it because Michael Carrick most likely would have preferred another game sooner rather than later.

He also most likely wouldn’t have selected a local derby. With that victory against Stoke, Michael Beale relieved some of his pressure, but a loss here and any positive momentum from that outcome would rapidly evaporate. They can’t afford for the same thing to happen again here because they were soundly defeated in the rematch, even though they were down to 10 players.

Prutton is predicting a 2-2 tie in this match; earlier in the season, Middlesbrough won 4-0 after Dan Neil was sent off.

This is Michael Beale’s hardest test yet.
Even after Sunderland defeated Stoke last time out, Beale is still not very well-liked by the team’s supporters.

However, he can swiftly defuse any early tensions if he can keep scoring points.

And the 43-year-old might have some new signings to unleash this weekend, with the extra day’s preparation potentially allowing for the likes of Romaine Mundle, Leo Hjelde, and Callum Styles to work their way into matchday contention, if not starting contention.

Middlesbrough have perhaps been just as inconsistent as Sunderland this season, and they too are lacking an out and out no.9, so this game could be won of lost on the wings and in midfield.

Jack Clarke will no doubt have his say on the match and once again he could be a game-changer for the Black Cats.

Beale will be hoping that Clarke and co are on form this weekend, as a heavy defeat could see Sunderland fall further away from the top six, and pile all that early pressure back into Beale’s shoulders.

The Sunday game begins at 12 p.m.