Score Predictions - can SAFC get Past Zagreb?

Stats at a glance: Dinamo Zagreb (H – Europa League): 05/11/2026

Average home goals predicted: 2.6 Average away goals predicted: 0.4 Confidence of Roker Report's writers: 6.25/10 Predicting a win for the Lads: 87.5%

Confidence of Roker Report's writers: 6.25/10

Martin Wanless (Cautious Optimist) says…

Score prediction: Sunderland 4 Zagreb 0 We need to use these games to build confidence for the league and hopefully we will see a changed team play good football and score some good goals. We need a response after the pathetic stuff we saw on Saturday. Key differentiator: Jules Ahoka. Legs in midfield. Confidence: 7/10 Bold call: All goals from open play.

We need to use these games to build confidence for the league and hopefully we will see a changed team play good football and score some good goals. We need a response after the pathetic stuff we saw on Saturday.

Key differentiator: Jules Ahoka. Legs in midfield.

Malc Dugdale (Scarred happy clapper) says…

Score prediction: Sunderland 3 Zagreb 0 The weekend was a wash out and tonight we need to see the players step up to back the coach and show what we can do. I expect at least 4-5 changes, and with Talbi now in the Europa side after Diarra is confirmed to have succumbed to yet another injury, I would not be surprised to see him step up and really put on a show. I'm doing a 7 hour plus round trip for this game with my lad, so I hope The Lads make that all worth it, and we build from here to take the spotlight off Regis, who I very much feel can get us back on track. Key differentiator: Zagreb have sacked their gaffer and we haven't. The game needs to come together at some point and let's hope its in this and the next game. Confidence: 6/10 Bold call: One of the players who comes in to replace a starter from Coventry gets a brace for us tonight.

The weekend was a wash out and tonight we need to see the players step up to back the coach and show what we can do.

I expect at least 4-5 changes, and with Talbi now in the Europa side after Diarra is confirmed to have succumbed to yet another injury, I would not be surprised to see him step up and really put on a show.

I'm doing a 7 hour plus round trip for this game with my lad, so I hope The Lads make that all worth it, and we build from here to take the spotlight off Regis, who I very much feel can get us back on track.

Key differentiator: Zagreb have sacked their gaffer and we haven't. The game needs to come together at some point and let's hope its in this and the next game.

Bold call: One of the players who comes in to replace a starter from Coventry gets a brace for us tonight.

Jack Howe-Gingell (Eternal optimist) says…

Score prediction: Sunderlan d 2 Zagreb 0 After another dismal league showing, the cups and Europe are now a rare place for solace. I'd expect changes again but if that's anything like the team who played against Brentford, it'll at least be exciting. No doubt Jules Ahoka will start again and add his already impressive run of games. I expect us to win comfortably and maybe it will spur us on to take some of that energy and push it into league games. Key differentiator: Jules Ahoka. The lad has all the tools and another good performance will drive us on Confidence: 8/10 Bold call: We'll win via two penalties

Score prediction: Sunderlan d 2 Zagreb 0

After another dismal league showing, the cups and Europe are now a rare place for solace.

I'd expect changes again but if that's anything like the team who played against Brentford, it'll at least be exciting.

No doubt Jules Ahoka will start again and add his already impressive run of games.

I expect us to win comfortably and maybe it will spur us on to take some of that energy and push it into league games.

Key differentiator: Jules Ahoka. The lad has all the tools and another good performance will drive us on

"Champion" Will Jones (Heart over head) says…

Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Zagreb 1 A really disappointing result against Coventry at the weekend, especially after the lift we got from beating Brentford. We need to put that behind us quickly, and Thursday gives us another chance to get back on track. European football under the lights at the Stadium of Light should be a great occasion. Zagreb have recently sacked their manager, but will be a tough opponent. I fancy us to have our moments, although I think we are currently too inconsistent and will have to settle for a point. Key differentiator: Making the most of home advantage and turning the atmosphere into a real advantage. Confidence: 5/10 Bold call: Sunderland's sixth substitution will be a left-footed academy graduate born on a Tuesday, who will score with his right knee in the 83rd minute, causing a four-minute VAR check because the ball briefly touched a passing crisp packet. In other words, I abstain.

A really disappointing result against Coventry at the weekend, especially after the lift we got from beating Brentford. We need to put that behind us quickly, and Thursday gives us another chance to get back on track.

European football under the lights at the Stadium of Light should be a great occasion.

Zagreb have recently sacked their manager, but will be a tough opponent. I fancy us to have our moments, although I think we are currently too inconsistent and will have to settle for a point.

Key differentiator: Making the most of home advantage and turning the atmosphere into a real advantage.

Bold call: Sunderland's sixth substitution will be a left-footed academy graduate born on a Tuesday, who will score with his right knee in the 83rd minute, causing a four-minute VAR check because the ball briefly touched a passing crisp packet. In other words, I abstain.

Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Zagreb 0 The only real positives we've had this season has been Europe and the League Cup, and hopefully that can continue and at least act as a welcome distraction. Zagreb have just sacked their manager, so god knows what impact that will have on the opponents. I say we'll win this, but only just. Key differentiator: it's highly unlikely it'll be anywhere the side that played on Saturday, and that will be the difference. Confidence: 7/10 Bold call: We'll win via an own goal.

The only real positives we've had this season has been Europe and the League Cup, and hopefully that can continue and at least act as a welcome distraction.

Zagreb have just sacked their manager, so god knows what impact that will have on the opponents.

Key differentiator: it's highly unlikely it'll be anywhere the side that played on Saturday, and that will be the difference.

Anthony Gair (Depreciating optimist) says…

Score prediction: Sunderland 6 Zagreb 1 Same old Sunderland. We're going to go out with the kids having a point to prove, with them banging on the Premier League door for a start. We'll go out all guns blazing too, shots galore. Key differentiator: this game will turn depending on how many of the premier league lot play. Confidence: 1/10 Bold call: We'll be 3-0 up at half time.

We're going to go out with the kids having a point to prove, with them banging on the Premier League door for a start.

We'll go out all guns blazing too, shots galore.

Key differentiator: this game will turn depending on how many of the premier league lot play.

Bold call: We'll be 3-0 up at half time.

Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Zagreb 1 The pressures of being cut adrift in the league are proving too tough a set of conditions for the team to perform in at the minute. Parking the torturous league schedule, hopefully we can relax to an extent tonight, play some free-flowing football, and see some promise from whoever starts in this one. We're facing a team who are 2nd in their domestic league and used to winning, so that will make it less than straight forward, but ultimately they are not a strong side. Key differentiator: This would be a different proposition away, so I reckon home advantage for the Lads gets us over the line. Confidence: 6/10 Bold call: There will be no yellow cards given tonight.

The pressures of being cut adrift in the league are proving too tough a set of conditions for the team to perform in at the minute.

Parking the torturous league schedule, hopefully we can relax to an extent tonight, play some free-flowing football, and see some promise from whoever starts in this one.

We're facing a team who are 2nd in their domestic league and used to winning, so that will make it less than straight forward, but ultimately they are not a strong side.

Key differentiator: This would be a different proposition away, so I reckon home advantage for the Lads gets us over the line.

Bold call: There will be no yellow cards given tonight.

Brett Lyons-Davis (Gut feeling guy) says…

Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Zagreb 0 Thanks goodness it's midweek Europa League time. Where we have attacking free flowing football and don't lose games, compared to the pain and suffering we have each weekend at present where players seem to have an internal competition of who is going have the biggest brain fart this week. Key differentiator: it's Europe baby!! Confidence: 7/10 Bold call: All goals will be scored by players who were born in a different country to who they represent on the international stage.

Thanks goodness it's midweek Europa League time.

Where we have attacking free flowing football and don't lose games, compared to the pain and suffering we have each weekend at present where players seem to have an internal competition of who is going have the biggest brain fart this week.

Bold call: All goals will be scored by players who were born in a different country to who they represent on the international stage.

The less said about that Coventry away performance the better. We were slow, demotivated and second best in most ways. And the gaffer did sweet FA to fix it until it was way too late.

The only positive thing is that Regis didnt get his P45 as a result of that, but he will need to put on a master class the next few games to hold on to the grace he has been given.

Tonight is his first chance to show he has what it takes, and that the players are willing and able to play for him. Whether those who play this evening get a sniff at the weekend could be part of his demise, even if we do win this Europa home game.

Hopefully Nordi will be back in the team after his day off (assume that was down to concussion protocols) and with Talbi now in the side in place of Diarra, this is a chance to see some green shoots to be nurtured for the Chelsea game to come very soon.

Most of the lads went for a win apart from Gary who called a draw. Nothing gained from all of that then.

None of the very creative bold calls gathered any credit either.

No change in the table, a bad day at the office all round, hopefully we can pull ourselves out of this rut very soon.

Just a quick reminder of how we allocate points to our match-by-match predictions:

Correct outcome (but not correct score) = One point

Possible deductions for repeatedly not submitting on time = a two-point deduction.