Match Preview: Sunderland (A)

29 September 2022

PNE will play the first of eight games in a hectic October this weekend as they take on Sunderland for the first time in over four years.

Match Information
Venue: Stadium of Light
Date: Saturday 1^st October, 3pm kick-off
Competition: Sky Bet Championship (Matchday 11/46)
Kit: Away kit - available in-store and online!

Supporter Information

There will be no pay on the day available for this fixture, therefore fans will need to buy before tickets go off sale online from www.mypne.com at 1pm on Friday and from the Deepdale ticket office at 5pm.

There is limited availability remaining on coach travel from Deepdale, while Leyland has sold out.

Collections can be made at the Stadium of Light from the ticket office adjacent to the East Stand, once the PNE club supporter coaches have arrived. Full ticket details can be found here.

How To Follow The Game

Supporters worldwide can listen to live commentary of the game on iFollow PNE with a £2.50 match pass or a £4.49 monthly pass.

Those overseas are able to watch the game on iFollow with a £10 match pass, which you can buy here.

There will also be the usual coverage across our social media platforms and here on PNE.Com before, during, and after the game.

In The Dressing Room

Ryan Lowe may have a fully-fit squad to choose from this weekend, with 18-year-old Mikey O'Neill the only doubt.

Ben Woodburn has missed the past three games with an ankle injury, but he has returned to training over the international break and is expected to be in contention.

Alan Browne, Ali McCann, Robbie Brady and Troy Parrott all returned from international duty unscathed on Thursday, however Daniel Johnson was a late arrival back in the UK from the USA and therefore he may miss out.

A Look At Our Hosts

While the league table at this stage of the season can be taken with a pinch of salt, Sunderland fans will certainly be happy with their current placement in fifth.

They achieved their long-awaited promotion from League One last season under former PNE boss Alex Neil, but following his departure for Stoke City, it is now Tony Mowbray at the helm.

The international break will no doubt have helped him spend some valuable time on the training pitch with his new squad, however he’s without top scorer Ross Stewart for at least six weeks due to a thigh injury.

Going Head To Head

Games played: 120
PNE wins: 34
Draws: 33
Sunderland wins: 53
Last meeting: Sunderland 0-2 PNE, 17^th March 2018

One To Watch

With top scorer Ross Stewart sidelined for six weeks and fellow forward Ellis Simms also injured, Sunderland may have to look elsewhere for their goals.

Former Spurs winger Jack Clarke has been key going forward so far this season for the Black Cats, having scored three already and assisting a further four.

His battle up against North End’s right wing back – whether it be Brad Potts or another option – could be key in this encounter.

Match Officials

Andy Woolmer will take charge of a PNE fixture for the second time this season on Saturday.

The experienced official last refereed a North End game in August as Ryan Lowe’s side drew 0-0 with Cardiff City.

Woolmer, who has shown 30 yellow cards and one red in his seven matches this campaign, will be assisted by Mark Dwyer and Matthew Smith, with Thomas Parsons on fourth official duty.

Pre-Match Thoughts

Gaffer Wants PNE To
Express Themselves Robbie Looking For Fast
Start To Busy October

Match Reports

Match Report: Sunderland 0 PNE 0

1 October 2022

Preston North End took a point home from Wearside after drawing 0-0 with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

There were chances for both sides in the stalemate, with Ben Whiteman and Jordan Storey both having efforts cleared off the line for PNE, while Ched Evans had a promising strike kept out by goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.

Four changes were made from the last game by manager Ryan Lowe and there was also a switch in formation. PNE lined up in a 3-4-2-1 shape, with skipper Alan Browne occupying the right wing back spot, while Robbie Brady joined Emil Riis just behind focal point Ched Evans.

PNE had to do some defending in the opening stages, with Liam Lindsay required to deal with a dangerous Jack Clarke cross, while Alex Pritchard soon sent an effort just wide.

Ben Whiteman then came so close to breaking the deadlock at the other end as the ball landed kindly to the midfielder in the box in the aftermath of a corner, but defender Aji Alese did impressively well to clear off the goal-line.

The game calmed down a little after that point, before Alese could have got himself an assist on the half-hour mark, as he fired a ball across the box which evaded a couple of Sunderland forwards.

There was a nearly moment for Patrick Roberts a few minutes later too, as he curled a 20-yard effort just over the crossbar, and the last attacking action of the half saw Freddie Woodman deny Elliot Embleton from a tight angle.

PNE had a presentable opportunity on 54 minutes, as a Lindsay header fell to Evans, who struck goalwards and saw his powerful effort tipped over the bar.

Sunderland then came close themselves, again through Roberts, who did well to beat both Greg Cunningham and Álvaro Fernández, but his shot was off target.

Back at the other end and Evans had another near miss, this time heading inches wide on the end of a Brady cross.

Jordan Storey was next to be frustrated, when he rose highest to meet a Ben Whiteman corner, and Lynden Gooch was on the line to clear his effort away.

Skipper Browne had the last chance of the game, cutting in on to his left foot and unleashing a low effort at goal, but Patterson saved to ensure both sides took a point from the game.

Sunderland line-up: Patterson; Gooch, O’Nien, Batth, Alese; Roberts, Evans (Ba, 60), Neil, Clarke (Dajaku, 81); Embleton (Amad, 60), Pritchard (Bennette, 70). Subs not used: Bass, Dajaku, Matete, Wright.

PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Cunningham; Browne, Whiteman, Ledson (Woodburn, 73), Fernández; Brady (McCann, 86), Riis; Evans (Parrott, 67). Subs not used: Cornell, Johnson, Diaby, Potts.

Attendance: 41,225 (2,532 PNE fans).

Referee: Mr A Woolmer.

Ticket News

Sunderland Tickets Remain On Sale

28 September 2022

Tickets for our away game against Sunderland will remain on sale until Friday 30th September, with no pay on the day available.

Preston North End head to the Stadium of Light on Saturday 1st October, and the club initially received 1,955 tickets in the North Stand upper tier, which sold out, with a final allocation of 979 tickets now on sale.

As of the morning of Friday morning, over 2,500 tickets had been sold, with around 400 left on sale.

Subject to availability, these tickets will remain on sale from www.mypne.com until 1pm on Friday, while sales will continue until 5pm from the ticket office and over the phone on 0344 856 1966. Sunderland have confirmed there will be no option to pay on the day.

Supporters can collect tickets on the day at the Stadium of Light, from the ticket office which is a separate building adjacent to the East Stand. This will be open from 11am, but any pre-bought tickets will only be available once the PNE club supporter coaches arrive at the stadium.

Ticket Prices

Adults £29
Seniors (65+) £26
U22s £22
U16s £12

Please note, all supporters under the age of 14 must be accompanied by someone aged 18 or above.

Disabled Supporter Information

There are six pairs of tickets available within the allocation for wheelchair users and carers.

Supporters in a wheelchair and ambulant disabled supporters will pay in accordance with their age band as per above, while a carer ticket will be provided free of charge if required.

Coach Travel

There is limited availability remaining from Deepdale for this fixture, while travel from Leyland is now sold out. Tickets are priced at £15 per Ambassador and £17 per non-Ambassador.

Coaches will depart both Deepdale and Leyland at 10.30am.

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