Can Brentford exploit Sunderland’s league slump? Sunderland vs Brentford prediction - 28.10.2026
Sunderland and Brentford meet at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday, October 28, in the fourth round of the EFL Cup. Both clubs have already knocked out Premier League opposition or lower-division sides to reach the last 16, but their current league situations could hardly be more different: Sunderland are bottom of the Premier League, while Brentford remain firmly in the top half.
Sunderland: the cup offers a break from Premier League problems
Régis Le Bris' side stopped a run of defeats at the weekend, but the 0-0 home draw against Leeds did little to change the overall picture. Sunderland remain 20th in the Premier League with five points from eight matches and are now without a league victory in six games.
The encouraging sign was the return of Brian Brobbey to the starting lineup. The Dutch forward made his first appearance since September 20 and had Sunderland's clearest chance against Leeds. His physical presence gives Le Bris another option in attack, although Sunderland have struggled to turn possession into goals consistently.
Cup football has been more positive. Sunderland entered the EFL Cup in the third round because of their European commitments and defeated Hull City 1-0 at the Stadium of Light. Chemsdine Talbi scored the only goal, while Le Bris showed that he is prepared to trust squad players in this competition.
There are still significant personnel issues. Daniel Ballard and Romaine Mundle remain sidelined, while Kevin Danso is suspended. Thomas Meunier and Wilson Isidor have also been unavailable recently. That reduces Sunderland's defensive and attacking options and makes another round of rotation more difficult.
Brentford: Andrews has more depth to work with
Brentford arrive after a 1-1 draw away to Hull City, where Dango Ouattara rescued a point in the second half. Keith Andrews' side were not at their best, but their overall Premier League campaign remains impressive: the Bees have lost only once in their first eight league matches and sit sixth in the table.
Their EFL Cup run has also highlighted the depth of the squad. Brentford thrashed Birmingham City 6-1 before beating Reading 2-1 in the third round. Andrews made eight changes against Reading, yet his team still progressed thanks to first-half goals from Callum Wilson and Fábio Carvalho, with Ouattara involved in both.
That attacking depth could be decisive at the Stadium of Light. Igor Thiago, Ouattara, Wilson, Carvalho, Mikkel Damsgaard and Kevin Schade give Andrews several different combinations, which is particularly valuable in a cup match played only three days after a league fixture.
Yehor Yarmolyuk remains suspended following his red card against Liverpool, but Vitaly Janelt has completed his one-match ban and can return. Antoni Milambo, Josh Dasilva and Kaye Furo remain unavailable, although Brentford still appear to have more reliable alternatives than their hosts.
Key trends
- Sunderland are winless in their last six Premier League matches.
- Sunderland have won only one of their first eight league games this season.
- Brentford have lost just once in eight Premier League matches.
- Brentford have already scored eight goals in two EFL Cup matches this season.
- Sunderland defeated Hull City 1-0 in the previous round.
- The teams drew 1-1 in their Premier League meeting at Brentford on September 5.
- Brentford won 3-0 when the sides met in January 2026.
Brentford's deeper squad can make the difference
Sunderland should be more competitive at the Stadium of Light than their league position might suggest. They were disciplined against Leeds, have already kept a clean sheet at home in this competition and will view the EFL Cup as an opportunity to generate some momentum.
However, Brentford look better equipped for a match in which both managers are likely to rotate. Andrews can change several attacking positions without dramatically reducing the quality of his team, while Sunderland's absences leave Le Bris with fewer established options.
The Bees have also been the more stable side throughout the opening months of the season. Even when performances have not been perfect, they have generally found a way to stay in matches, and Ouattara's equaliser at Hull was another example of that resilience.
Sunderland can make this uncomfortable, particularly at home, but over 90 minutes Brentford's greater depth, stronger league form and wider range of attacking options should eventually give the visitors the edge.
Prediction: Brentford to win.
