Score Predictions: Preston vs SAFC
Today at 01:00 AM
What will the score be tonight?
Last Game Recap
Sunderland held on with ten men for more than half an hour at Loftus Rd last Saturday, leaving London with a hard earned 0-0 draw after a straight red for Jobe around the hour mark.
Tonight, we travel to Alan Browne's old haunt Preston North End, looking to at least keep our unbeaten record going, and ideally hoping to slow the steady progression that is developing under Paul Heckingbottom's leadership.
'The Champion' Martin Wanless predicts...
Score prediction: Preston NE 0 Sunderland 1
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Isidor
We had to fight hard for a point on Saturday and will be facing a team today that are determined to get back on track after a poor result at home to Bristol City at the weekend.
We've looked solid at the back for the majority of the season and think we'll see that continue tonight - and hopefully Wilson will get back on the goal scoring train tonight with the winner.
Malc Dugdale predicts...
Score prediction: Preston NE 0 Sunderland 2
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Mundle
This could be another tough game just like QPR, but I would hope we will have eleven shirts on the pitch for the whole match this time.
I do think with the return of Rigg and the replacement of Jobe with Preston old boy Browne, we could potentially have just as good a shape, with more chance for Dan Neil to get forward.
Dan was unlucky to not nick it for us at the weekend with his opportunistic shot against the post, and it would be great to see him pushing up again.
Preston haven't won for a couple of weeks and we are pretty unstoppable when we are running hot, so I am punting for Mundle to open our account and a 2-0 away win, though it could probably a tight one for the first hour or so.
Jack Howe-Gingell predicts...
Score prediction: Preston NE 0 Sunderland 2
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Mundle
I'm pleased we escaped QPR unscathed after Jobe's early second half red, but how will we now handle his absence?
Jobe has been a fantastic influence on our midfield, and with the already missing Chris Rigg we have a conundrum on our hands. Naturally, former Preston man Alan Browne will feature (hopefully the former player curse will strike for us in the right way!) but I'm unsure how we will balance up the midfield.
Preston have been solid, if unspectacular, and I'm sure they will fancy themselves at home. We need to show what we're made of, and some of our backup brigade will need to step up!
I think we will get the three points, but this could prove an unusually tough encounter.
Will Jones predicts...
Score prediction: Preston NE 1 Sunderland 1
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Cirkin
Leaving London with a point is always a point well earned, no matter the circumstance. We are top, and 4 points from next 2 guarantees us top spot come the international break.
This is gonna be a tough one. Heckingbottom has PNE playing steady, but well.
I would love another away win, akin to the final day a couple of seasons ago.
Without Jobe, a potential (too) quick return for Riggy, can we really beat Preston in their own back yard? Who knows.
Matty Foster predicts...
Score prediction: Preston NE 0 Sunderland 1
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Browne
I was pleased to come away with a point at QPR, having stood resolute after the red card.
Jobe will be a significant loss in midfield tonight, but I'm delighted to hear Riggy is available again, and he'll slot straight back in.
Despite losing on Saturday, Preston's form at Deepdale has been decent under Heckingbottom, having been unbeaten in the previous five on home soil.
However, they have significant issues defensively, having conceded EIGHT goals in their last three games.
I do think it will be a close game, but I fancy three points tonight, with the former player curse working in our favour (for a change).
Bomber Davies predicts...
Score prediction: Preston NE 1 Sunderland 1
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Mundle
Preston seem very hit and miss at home this season. Having been stuffed by Bristol City last time out fans will be expecting a reaction, and with home results against Watford, Norwich and Blackburn already they will have some confidence in getting something from tonight's game.
The lads will also be hoping for some sort of reaction, having been entirely frustrated by QPR last weekend. I have a feeling we may drop a couple here, and the reaction coming against the bigger teams to come. It feels like the sort of team Sunderland might slip up against, so I'm predicting going 1-0 down, with a Mundle thunderbolt to save the day.
Gary Winter predicts...
Score prediction: Preston NE 0 Sunderland 1
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Isidor
We were resilient with 10 men against QPR but ultimately we didn't really get into the game at any point in an attacking sense, or find any rhythm. Slightly concerning given QPR are second from bottom, but hopefully just one of those games.
I'm expecting us to have to work hard in this next game against Preston, but we've been excellent defensively and in terms of organisation. We just have to find that attacking fluidity again to ensure we remain at the top of the league.
Chris Rigg's technical abilities were missed on a small pitch at Loftus Road, so it would great to welcome him back into the side with Jobe suspended. I'm backing us to return to winning ways with a sneaky 0-1 win tonight, and sending Preston to a third consecutive home defeat. Isidor could've opened the scoring for us last Saturday, so I'll bet on him doing so this time around.
Brett Lyons-Davis predicts...
Score prediction: Preston NE 0 Sunderland 2
Sunderland's first goalscorer: Rigg
We found it tough breaking down QPR with 11 men never mind 10 on Saturday. Missing the Rigg and Bellingham spark in the second half.
Thankfully Rigg is back after missing the trip to London and hopefully the forced break has done him some good and he comes back in fully fit and raring to go.
Defensively we continue to look solid and I can see another clean sheet with the lads winning 0-2
Last game predictions
Quite an optimistic forecast from the RR writers was all but dashed by a red card for Jobe at Loftus Rd.
To be fair QPR did not play badly and with or without the ten man situation, a draw was likely a reasonable outcome for both.
Latest standings
No change in the table from pre QPR - Martin remains top, with plenty lads sniffing around to nick his spot.
Matty remains the writer with the broadest shoulders holding up the table, with half the points of Martin at this early stage,
How the points are awarded
Just a quick reminder of how we allocate points to our match-by-match predictions:
- Correct score = Three points
- Correct outcome (but not correct score) = One point
- Correct first Sunderland goalscorer = One point (no goal scorer is a valid call)
- Possible deductions for being lazy and not submitting on time = Yellow Card warning, then a two point deduction.
