Potts, Brad 
Ekwah, Pierre 
Sunderland will go in search of their first Championship points in 2023-24 when they do battle with Preston North End at Deepdale on Saturday.
Key Takeaways
- Preston drew with Bristol City on the opening weekend before losing to Salford on penalties in the EFL Cup
- Sunderland also suffered a shock penalty shootout defeat at the hands of Crewe Alexandra in midweek
- Trai Hume was sent off as the Black Cats lost 2-1 against Ipswich Town in their opening league game
Having both fallen to League Two opponents in the EFL Cup, Preston and Sunderland will be determined to bounce straight back this weekend, with the visitors aiming to recover from successive defeats.
Preston North End Form
Will Keane’s 86th-minute equaliser saw Preston snatch a last-gasp draw against Bristol City last weekend. However, the Lilywhites were not so lucky in midweek, suffering penalty heartache at the expense of fourth-tier outfit Salford City.
Although Preston finished just six points shy of the play-off places last season, only six teams picked up fewer home points than Ryan Lowe’s side. After managing to win just seven of their 23 league games at Deepdale in 2022-23, the Lancashire outfit must improve on home soil.
Sunderland Form
Despite racking up 67% possession and 20 shots last weekend, Sunderland suffered a 2-1 defeat against Ipswich Town. On Tuesday, the Black Cats registered 65% possession and 18 shots at the Stadium of Light, only two draw 1-1 with Crewe before losing on penalties.
Still, Tony Mowbray’s men can take confidence from their strong away record. While Preston had the seventh-worst home record in the Championship last term, Sunderland finished the campaign with the fourth-best away record, underlining their potency on the road.
Head-to-Head
Sunderland avoided defeat in this fixture last season, playing out a goalless draw with Preston at the Stadium of Light before claiming an impressive 3-0 victory at Deepdale.
When you look at the bigger picture, however, the Black Cats have managed to win just one of their previous eight meetings with the Lilywhites across all competitions.
Team News
Preston North End will be without the injured duo of Ched Evans and Emil Riis this weekend, with the latter last making an appearance back in January before sustaining a serious knee injury.
On the flip side, Sunderland’s lengthy injury list contains Ross Stewart, Jenson Seelt, Jay Matete, Corry Evans, Elliot Embleton and Ajibola Alese.
Key Players
Preston goalkeeper Freddie Woodman has established himself as one of the most reliable stoppers in the Championship. With Liverpool loanee Calvin Ramsay operating ahead of Woodman in the backline, the Lilywhites should remain defensively sound this season.
As for Sunderland, Jack Clarke will look to rack up more attacking returns this season after the former Tottenham Hotspur winger bagged 11 goals and 14 assists across all competitions last term.
Final Thoughts
While Preston possessed one of the worst home records in the Championship last season, Sunderland were among the best teams on the road. With that in mind, the Black Cats will be confident of picking up a positive result at Deepdale.
Championship