Preston v Sunderland preview: Team news, head-to-head, where to watch, prediction
Sunderland travel to Deepdale on Wednesday to face Preston with hopes of extending their unbeaten run to seven following a goalless draw against QPR.
The Black Cats were held to a 0-0 draw by Championship strugglers QPR last time out with a performance that was far below what has been seen from them this season.
With that said, it was the sixth consecutive game in which Sunderland have avoided defeat and Regis Le Bris will be hoping his side can swiftly get back to winning ways as they continue their quest for a Premier League return.
Preview
After 13 games, the Wearsiders sit top of the Championship table albeit their advantage has been reduced to just three points.
A 58th minute red card for Jobe Bellingham left his side fighting an uphill battle at Loftus Road and his absence will certainly be missed against Preston.
Sunderland have demonstrated the best away form in the division so far and a trip to Deepdale provides an opportunity to build on that.
As for the hosts, just three wins in their 13 matches has them sitting down in 20th and with just one win in their last six (all competitions), the Lilywhites will be hoping to take advantage of a slightly weakened Black Cats side.
Form Guide (Championship)
Preston – LDDWD
Sunderland – DWWWD
Head-to-head (Championship)
Sunderland 2-0 Preston (January, 2024)
Preston 2-1 Sunderland (August, 2023)
Preston 0-3 Sunderland (May, 2023)
Sunderland 0-0 Preston (October, 2022)
Sunderland 0-2 Preston (March, 2018)
Team news
Sunderland do not have any fresh injury concerns although Jobe will be missing from the squad. His red card picked up against QPR will serve him with a three-match ban, starting with Preston.
Chris Rigg was absent from the squad at the weekend but Le Bris confirmed that he will be available for selection at Deepdale.
Eliezer Mayenda was named on the bench at Loftus Road while Dan Ballard could return to the squad, Anthony Patterson is likely to sit out one more game with Simon Moore expected to start his third game in a row.
As for Preston, strikers Will Keane, Ched Evans and Milutin Osmajic all remain out. With the latter still serving an eight-game suspension for biting an opponent in their encounter with Blackburn.
Robbie Brady is also a doubt.
Predicted lineups
Preston: Woodman, Storey, Lindsay, Hughes, Potts, Frokjaer-Jensen, Whiteman, McCann, Kesler-Hayden, Riis, Greenwood
Sunderland: Moore, Hume, O’Nien, Mepham, Cirkin, Neil, Rigg, Browne, Roberts, Mundle, Isidor
Where to watch?
Sunderland’s encounter with Preston will be shown live on Sky Sports Football with an 8 pm kick-off scheduled.
The game will also be broadcast on ESPN+.
Score prediction: Preston 0-2 Sunderland
After a poor display against QPR, Le Bris and his Mackems side will be looking to bounce back with a win against another side who have struggled as of late.
Despite the absence of Jobe, the Black Cats have more than enough quality to win games like this and I can see a comfortable win.
In other Sunderland news, Tony Cascarino has claimed that Leeds are “the team to beat” despite the Wearsiders sitting top of the Championship table.
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