Match Preview: Sunderland (H)

4 May 2023

Preston North End will finish the Championship campaign on Monday with a home clash against Sunderland, who are looking to break into the Play-Offs.

Match Information
Venue: Deepdale
Date: Monday 8^th May, 3pm kick-off
Competition: EFL Sky Bet Championship (Matchday 46/46)
Kit: Home kit – 50% off available in-store and online!

Supporter Information

Subject to availability, tickets for this fixture will remain on sale right up until kick-off to those who have a previous purchase history with the club.

Tickets will be available to buy online from www.mypne.com, while supporters can also buy in person from the ticket office and over the phone on 0344 856 1966.

The Gentry Bar will once again be open before and after the match, with doors opening at 12 noon, and there will be the usual selection of drinks and live music on offer, with full details to be confirmed in the Matchday Information article which will be published prior to Monday.

Supporters of EFL clubs up and down the country are being reminded ahead of the final round of fixtures that entering the field of play and the use of pyrotechnics will be punished by strong sanctions, such as club bans and police action.

Following full-time, supporters are encouraged to stay in their seats as the players will complete a lap of thanks around the pitch before the Player Awards take place.

How To Follow The Game

Supporters worldwide can listen to the game live on iFollow PNE, with commentary coming from Jonathan Breeze and Andy Fensome. Click here to buy a match pass for just £2.50.

As the match is being shown live on Sky Sports, the fixture will be unavailable to watch live on iFollow PNE. Supporters are advised to check their local TV listings to see if the match is available to watch in their area.

There will also be extensive coverage of the fixture across our social media channels and right here on PNE.Com.

In The Dressing Room

Robbie Brady could return to training this weekend ahead of Monday’s match, after missing the past two fixtures through injury.

Ben Whiteman, who missed the defeat to Sheffield United with a groin issue, is unlikely to make the final match of the season.

There are no fresh injury concerns for Ryan Lowe to worry about, with only the longer-term absentees sidelined while Bambo Diaby is still missing through suspension.

A Look At Our Visitors

Sunderland will arrive at Deepdale on Monday still in with a chance of achieving a Play-Off spot.

Tony Mowbray’s side will need other results to go in their favour – with Coventry City and Millwall within their reach – but Sunderland will need to win either way if they are to have any chance.

The Black Cats have hit form at the right time of the season, having gone eight games unbeaten, and they’ll be backed by a sold-out away end at Deepdale.

Going Head To Head

Games played: 121
PNE wins: 34
Draws: 34
Sunderland wins: 53
Last victory: Sunderland 0-2 PNE, 17^th March 2018

One To Watch

Amad Diallo – a youngster who has been regarded very highly at parent club Manchester United since his arrival from Atalanta since 2021 – has enjoyed a brilliant first season in the Championship.

The Ivory Coast international didn’t have the loan spell he would have hoped for with Rangers last term, but he has really shown his quality at the Stadium of Light this season.

A crucial part of their team, Amad has mainly operated from the right during the course of the campaign and has scored 12 goals along the way.

Match Officials

Bobby Madley, the man who took charge of North End’s opening game of the season, will referee Monday's Championship finale.

Madley showed a red card to Ched Evans on that curtain-raising fixture against Wigan Athletic at the end of July, and that’s one of six he’s produced this season.

In total this campaign, Madley has refereed 22 games, showing 93 yellow cards and those six reds.

Match Reports

Match Report: PNE 0 Sunderland 3

8 May 2023

Preston North End brought the 2022/23 campaign to a close with a 3-0 defeat at home to Sunderland.

Both sides had great opportunities in the first half to break the deadlock, with Liam Delap having the best chance of the day for PNE, while Freddie Woodman came up with several good stops to keep the game goalless.

The visitors took the lead, however, on 54 minutes when Amad Diallo found the top corner from range, before strikes from Alex Pritchard and Jack Clarke helped the visitors secure a Play-Off spot thanks to results elsewhere.

There were two changes to the North End XI which included a first start since February for Ali McCann, while Patrick Bauer came in as a late addition after Andrew Hughes pulled out during the warm-up.

It was a blistering start at Deepdale with both sides going at it right from the off, and North End created an early opportunity through Álvaro Fernández who sent a dangerous ball across the face of goal, but Tom Cannon couldn’t quite get a touch.

McCann then had an effort deflected a matter of inches wide in the sixth minute, before Delap came close to heading home just a few moments later.

At the other end, Clarke cut inside from the left for Sunderland and looked to find the far corner, whistling the strike just past the post.

After the visitors had a big penalty shout waved away, Woodman came up with a huge stop for his side, tipping Patrick Roberts’ effort away from the top corner.

Delap then had a massive chance for his second goal in as many games when McCann sent him through one-on-one with Anthony Patterson, but the striker sent his attempt wide of goal.

Joe Gelhardt had a golden opportunity himself a few minutes later when he was played through by Pierre Ekwah, and goalkeeper Woodman stuck out a strong right arm to make an impressive stop at close range.

Three minutes into the second half, the visitors again came close, firstly through Dan Neil who sent a 20-yard strike just wide before Ekwah had a close-range effort kept out by Woodman.

There was nothing the goalkeeper could do in the 54^th minute, though, when Diallo took aim from more than 20 yards and bent his effort into the top corner.

North End almost had an equaliser in just a few minutes’ time through Bauer, but Patterson managed to keep his header out from Ledson’s corner.

However, the next goal of the day came at the other end as Pritchard wrongfooted Woodman and found the bottom corner to double his side’s advantage.

It was three just a few moments later when the ball was worked wide to Clarke, who cut inside onto his right foot and curled it into the far corner.

There wasn’t too much in the way of goalmouth action after that point as the Black Cats took all three points to earn themselves a place in the Play-Offs.

PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey, Bauer, Lindsay; Potts, Ryan Ledson, McCann, Fernández; Parrott (Onomah, 55); Cannon, Delap (Woodburn, 69). Subs not used: Cornell, Slater, Leigh, Mawene, Kamara.

Sunderland line-up: Patterson; Gooch (Anderson, 66), Hume, O’Nein, Cirkin (Pritchard, 45); Neil, Ekwah (Lihadji, 86); Roberts, Diallo (Ba, 86), Clarke; Gelhardt (Michut, 73). Subs not used: Bass, Taylor.

Attendance: 21,177 (5,714 Sunderland fans).

Referee: Mr R Madley.

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