Here at SportsCasting, we have the Sunderland vs Preston preview, prediction, latest team news and predicted lineups ahead of Tuesday’s crucial EFL Championship clash.
Sunderland Vs Preston Preview
Sunderland will be aiming to keep the pressure on the top three at the SoL on Tuesday evening. Regis Le Bris’ side are currently eight points behind Sheffield United.
As it stands, the playoffs look fairly nailed on as the Black Cats aim to secure Premier League football for the first time since 2017. The Mackems are 15 points above 7th-placed Bristol City.
On Saturday, Eliezer Mayenda and Chris Mepham netted in the crucial 2-1 win over Cardiff. That was the second successive victory of that scoreline in recent weeks for Le Bris’ men.
A win on GW37 will see Sunderland go over the 70-point mark which is a truly excellent return going into the final stages of the 2024/25 EFL Championship campaign.
Last season, the Black Cats dwindled to a 16th-place finish after starting the campaign brightly. Le Bris has ensured history does not repeat itself as the Mackems looked prime to challenge for promotion.
Preston appear to be on their summer holidays a few months early. It appears that Paul Heckingbottom’s side will finish around mid-table.
North End are over 10 points above the relegation zone and the playoffs seem very much beyond them. On Saturday, Heckingbottom returned to Bramall Lane and saw his side lose 1-0.
Tyrese Campbell scored the only goal of the game to inflict just the Lilywhites 11th defeat in 2024/25. The problem appears to have been too many draws that have hindered their top-six aspirations.
Ironically, the two sides played out a stalemate in the reverse fixture at Deepdale in early November. A win in the North East does have the potential to put Heckingbottom’s side up to 14th.
Ahead of the match, the best football betting sites in the UK price Sunderland as the 5/8 favourites. Preston are 26/5 with the draw 29/10.
Sunderland Vs Preston Team News
Patrick Roberts should start for Sunderland after suffering from muscle tightness against Cardiff on Saturday. He was subbed off as a precaution.
Regis Le Bris will have to make do without Salis Abdul Samed, Daniel Ballard, Niall Huggins, Ajibola Alese and Ian Poveda.
As for Preston, Milutin Osmajic and Jayden Meghoma will be hoping to make the matchday squad after missing the Sheffield United defeat.
Ali McCann, Mads Frokjaer, Josh Seary, Jack Whatmough and Jordan Storey are all expected to be out for Paul Heckingbottom’s men.
Sunderland Vs Preston Predicted Lineups
Sunderland (4-3-3): Patterson; Hume, Mepham, O’Nien, Cirkin; Rigg, Neil, Bellingham; Roberts, Mayenda, Isidor
Preston (5-2-1-2): Woodman; Kesler-Hayden, Gibson, Porteous, Lindsay, Brady; Potts, Ledson; Greenwood; Osmajic, Riis
Sunderland Vs Preston Prediction
Preston will certainly be no pushovers but we are predicting Sunderland to just about get the job done at the Stadium of Light.
North End haven’t been too good on the road this term and the Black Cats appear to be getting back into their stride.
Prediction: Sunderland 2-1 Preston
