A pivotal encounter at the top of the League One table takes place at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday evening as fourth-placed Sunderland welcome second-placed Rotherham United.

The Black Cats put five past Cambridge United in a weekend romping last time out, while the visitors came from behind to beat Oxford United by two goals to one.

Match preview

With only two games left to play in the current League One season, Sunderland could certainly throw the black cat amongst the pigeons on Tuesday night, with their hopes of automatic promotion to the Championship not dead and buried just yet.

After Cambridge lost centre-back Lloyd Jones to an early red card after just 12 minutes on Saturday, Sunderland breezed through with strikes from Ross Stewart (2), Nathan Broadhead, Danny Batth and Elliot Embleton to keep their hopes of a top-two finish alive in emphatic fashion.

Not even their spot in the playoffs is secured just yet, but Sunderland are sitting pretty in fourth and can close the gap to Rotherham and MK Dons to just three points with a win on Tuesday night, with Wigan Athletic out of sight for Alex Neil's in-form side.

Now boasting an 11-game unbeaten streak in the third tier and winning each of their last five at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland have set themselves up well for a clash of this importance, but a final-day meeting with lowly Morecambe at least gives them an insurance buffer should they need it.

The Easter period has not been a memorable one for Rotherham as they seek an immediate return to the second tier of English football, but Paul Warne's side chose an ideal time to return to winning ways during the visit of Oxford United on Saturday afternoon.

Truly defining the term zero to hero, Dan Barlaser's own goal broke the deadlock with 10 minutes gone, but Rotherham levelled through Rarmani Edmonds-Green on the stroke of half time before Barlaser returned to the manager's good books with the winning spot kick in the 66th minute.

Despite opening the month of April with three defeats from four in the third division, Rotherham's Championship destiny is still in their own hands as they remain second in the rankings - three points behind champions-elect Wigan and only clear of MK Dons on goal difference.

Rotherham will be praying for Portsmouth to do them a favour against Wigan on Tuesday night - the Millers could go top of the rankings if the Latics fall to defeat on matchday 45 - but they have failed to win any of their last four League One games on the road and have not found the back of the net even once in that streak.

The visitors certainly have happy memories of a 5-1 thrashing of Sunderland on their own turf back in October - a true Halloween horror show for the Black Cats - and revenge will be on the minds of the promotion-chasing hosts at the Stadium of Light here.

Team News

Sunderland did not come through the win over Cambridge United unscathed, as defender Carl Winchester was only on the pitch for 10 minutes before being taken off with an apparent groin injury.

With Neil also likely to cope without Dennis Cirkin - who could return if the Black Cats successfully advance to the playoffs - 18-year-old Callum Doyle is primed to come into the backline this week.

Alex Pritchard recovered from a calf problem to come on as a substitute in the weekend's victory, but Leon Dajaku is still sidelined for Neil, who will be loath to alter a winning formula here.

Meanwhile, Rotherham would be without Sunderland loanee Will Grigg for this encounter due to ineligibility, but the striker is out for the season with a hamstring issue alongside Josh Vickers and his broken hand.

Shane Ferguson's season is also over after he suffered a foot injury against Burton Albion in midweek, but Arsenal loanee Jordi Osei-Tutu shook off an ankle knock to play the full 90 against Oxford.

Freddie Ladapo was also absent from the squad at the weekend, with Warne admitting that he did not even know if the striker was at the ground as Michael Smith prepares to lead the line again.

Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Doyle, Batth, Wright; Gooch, O'Nien, Evans, Embleton, Roberts; Broadhead, Stewart

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Wood, Edmonds-Green, Ihiekwe; Harding, Barlaser, Rathbone, Osei-Tutu; Wiles, Ogbene; Smith

We say: Sunderland 2-1 Rotherham United

Rotherham simply cannot afford another lackadaisical attacking performance on the road lest they leave their automatic promotion hopes in even more jeopardy, and a confidence-boosting win is just what the doctor ordered for the Millers.

However, Sunderland's prolific weekend showing and spate of victories at the Stadium of Light arguably sees them enter the game as favourites, and we can only picture the Black Cats all but assuring themselves of a playoff place with a hard-fought triumph.

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