Preston North End host Championship leaders, Sunderland, in a midweek clash at Deepdale.
Victory could see Preston move five points clear of the relegation zone, whilst a win or draw would keep Sunderland top unless Leeds fail to beat Millwall.
Team News
Preston have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 3-1 loss to Bristol City.
Milutin Osmajic (suspension), Robbie Brady (ankle), Ched Evans (knee), Patrick Bauer (elbow) and Will Keane (thigh) remain absent.
Sunderland will be without midfielder, Jobe Bellingham who is suspended for three matches, following his red card in their goalless draw at QPR.
Dan Ballard (ankle) is available but Anthony Patterson (knock) remains doubtful for selection.
Ian Poveda, Salis Abdul Samed (both muscle), Ahmed Abdullahi (groin), Jenson Seelt, Niall Huggins (both knee) and Aji Alese (ankle) remain sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Preston host Sunderland at Deepdale on Wednesday 6 November at 8pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Preston are unbeaten in seven of their last nine league meetings against Sunderland (W5, D2, L2)
- Sunderland have won one of their last five league visits to Preston (W1, D1, L3).
- Preston have scored two goals in three of their last four home matches against Sunderland, except a 3-0 loss in May 2023.
- Sam Greenwood has scored in each of Preston’s last two home games (D1, L1).
- Sunderland have kept clean sheets in two of their last three away games.
Prediction
With their five-match unbeaten run ended by a ruthless Bristol City, Preston now need to just reset and try to find that clinical edge to their dominant attacking play, having been wasteful with just two of 14 shots on target at the weekend.
That style though will suit Sunderland who played with a low defensive line and let QPR come at them with little luck, so I expect more of the same but the Black Cats will need to cope without Bellingham’s presence.
With that in mind, I can see a close game brewing which Preston should edge if can tighten up defensively.
Prediction: Preston 1-0 Sunderland
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