At the Stadium of Light on Saturday, two teams, Sunderland and Preston North End will go head-to-head with the hopes of getting off to a winning start in their second games back after the international break.
The team that is playing at home is now fifth in the Championship with 15 points after their first 10 games, while the team that is traveling to them is three points behind and has not won any of their last three matches.
Our Match Preview: Sunderland vs Preston North End
Sunderland, promoted from League One last season, is in the top six in the Championship with 15 points from 10 games.
The second of those triumphs, a 2-0 win against Stoke City, led to Alex Neil’s resignation, and Tony Mowbray was named manager. In his four games as manager, the new leader has overseen two triumphs, including a 3-0 win against Rotherham United before a loss to Midlesbrough.
The Stadium of Light outfit bounced back impressively, scoring another 3-0 victory away at Reading thanks to a Patrick Roberts brace and a Jack Clarke goal, before heading into the break on the back of a 2-2 draw away at newly-relegated Watford as Jewison Bennette equalized in the dying minutes.
The Black Cats will strive for their fifth league victory of the season and second at home on Saturday. Preston North End went into the break in a slump and will want to rebound.
No other Championship team has conceded less than the Lilywhites’ four goals in 10 games, but with just three of their own, they have only gained 12 points.
Emil Riis Jakobsen scored the lone goal in their second victory against Coventry City in late August, but they have not been able to improve since, losing at home to Birmingham City before recovering a point at Burnley.
Ryan Lowe’s side was shut out by league leaders Sheffield United before the international break, losing 2-0 at Deepdale. Lancashire will be anxious to reverse their offensive record and start a rise up the league on Saturday.
Our Team News: Sunderland vs Preston North End
Ross Stewart, a key striker for Sunderland who helped them win promotion from League One with 26 goals last season, will once again be unavailable as he continues to nurse an injury, and his regular strike partner Ellis Simms will also remain sidelined.
Stewart has scored five goals in seven Championship appearances this season. Patrick Roberts and Jack Clarke will again be depended upon extensively in attack, as will the talented 18-year-old Jewison Bennette.
They scored a brace on international duty for Costa Rica after scoring the equalizer for the Black Cats against Watford in their last match. Given the team’s injuries.
They might continue to play on the wings alongside Alex Pritchard and Elliot Embleton, with the pair taking on more offensive duty, while Bailey Wright could return to start alongside Danny Batth at center defense.
With players like Andrew Hughes returning to the fold, Preston North End should have a deep pool of talent to draw from. However, Hughes may have to wait for a starting role, as Greg Cunningham has performed well in the back three with Liam Lindsay and Jordan Storey.
After leading the Lilywhites in scoring with 16 goals in the Championship last season, Lowe would be wise to keep Emil Riis Jakobsen in the starting lineup despite the striker’s slow start.
- Brad Potts and Robbie Brady are expected to play on the wings, while Daniel Johnson, Alan Browne, Ali McCann, Ryan Ledson, and Ben Whiteman are vying for starting spots in the m Sunderland possible starting lineup: Patterson, Gooch, Wright, Batth, Alese; Neil, Evans, Clarke, Roberts; Embleton, Pritchard.
- Preston North End possible starting lineup: Woodman, Storey, Lindsay, Cunningham, Potts, Whiteman, McCann, Brady, Browne, Riis, Parrott.
Our Prediction: Sunderland 1-0 Preston North End
With home-field advantage and the absence of key strikers for Sunderland, the Black Cats should be able to pull off the upset on Saturday against the Lilywhites.
Meanwhile, the visitors have demonstrated a worrying lack of offensive flair this season.