David Prutton makes worrying Sunderland prediction ahead of Bolton clash

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Sunderland host fellow Championship strugglers Bolton Wanderers at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday.

David Prutton has told Sky Sports that he is expecting Simon Grayson’s miserable start to life as Sunderland boss to get even worse when the Black Cats take on Bolton on Tuesday.

Sunderland currently find themselves second-bottom of the division, having won just one of their opening 14 league games, losing seven, and it appears that time may be beginning to run out for Grayson.

The Daily Star recently reported that losing to the Trotters – the only team below them in the Championship table currently – could well result in the former Preston North End boss being sacked. And Prutton – who played under Grayson at Leeds United during his playing days – has predicted that his old boss could be in some trouble.

“23rd hosts 24th in the Sky Bet Championship and you feel like it’s a must-win game for both. Simon Grayson seemed a shrewd appointment for Sunderland at the start of the season but it just hasn’t gone right for him so far,” he told Sky Sports while explaining why he is expecting Bolton to win 1-0.

“He’ll need time but if results continue to go the way they are then it’s unlikely he’ll get much more of it, and it’s a little unfortunate for them that they’re meeting Bolton at a time when they’ve actually started picking up a few results. I fancy the Trotters to heap more misery on the Black Cats.”

The season may only be 14 league games old, but there is surely no doubt that Tuesday’s clash is the definition of a six-pointer, with three points separating Sunderland and five points separating Bolton from safety.

Defeat for either would be a worrying sign, as with 16 defeats between them already this term, the side or sides who fail to win will surely be facing a huge uphill battle trying to get themselves out of trouble, as, while the points difference is not insurmountable by any means, the confidence will take a massive knock.

And Prutton fears that it will be Sunderland’s taking that sizeable hit – which may potentially leave the Black Cats board with a decision to make if reports are to be believed.