Preston v Sunderland: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Playing under the lights is often an enjoyable experience for Preston, who are unbeaten in their last 21 midweek home league games.

However, there is mounting pressure on Paul Heckingbottom’s side, who slipped to 20th in the Championship after Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at home to Bristol City.

Sunderland will be equally keen to push for the victory as they strive to cement their position at the top of the table.

The Black Cats have set the pace for over a month, but they had to settle for a 0-0 weekend draw at QPR, where they had to play a large chunk of the game with ten men.

Key midfielder Jobe Bellingham was sent off in the 58th minute and must serve a three-game suspension either side of the November international break.

Preston North End v Sunderland betting tips and predictions

Preston to win - 23/10

Preston have endured a testing opening three months of the season, but they have collected 11 of 14 points on home soil and look overpriced to register their fourth league win of the campaign.

Going into last Saturday’s fixture at home to Bristol City, Preston were sat just one point outside of the top half and were unbeaten in five Championship home games.

They were beaten 3-1 by the Robins, but it was a game heavily influenced by Yu Hirakawa’s controversial sixth-minute opening goal which featured a clear handball from the Japanese player.

Preston responded reasonably well, but ultimately lost the game despite winning the shot count 14 to five.

However, they are unlikely to be too downhearted and the Sunderland fixture may have come at an opportune moment.

Sunderland head to Deepdale without injured first-choice goalkeeper Anthony Patterson and talented 19-year-old midfielder Bellingham, who was sent off during the goalless draw at QPR.

Regis Le Bris’ side battled on without Bellingham in the capital and secured a hard-fought point.

However, they expended a lot of physical and mental energy and may suffer the consequences against Preston, who will be eager to make up for their weekend injustice.

Emil Riis to score at any time - 11/4

Preston could do with scoring a few more goals and their best hope for a deadlock breaker against Sunderland may be Danish striker Emil Riis, who has plenty of scope to improve on his tally of two goals in 13 league games.

In the earlier part of the season, Riis was having to share match minutes with fellow forwards Will Keane and Milutin Osmajic.

However, with Keane injured and Osmajic serving a lengthy suspension, there have been more recent opportunities for Riis to get into a better rhythm.

The Dane has registered 25 shots this season at a total XG of 3.51 and his threat to the Black Cats is sufficient to warrant an any time scorer wager at 11/4.

Alan Browne to be carded - 5/1

Sunderland are expecting to welcome back talented teenage midfielder Chris Rigg from a minor injury, but their midfield will be weakened by the start of Bellingham’s suspension.

Ex-Preston player Alan Browne was the man chosen to fill in for Rigg at the weekend and he now appears likely to deputise for Bellingham in the Black Cats’ engine room.

Browne is a hard-working player who makes plenty of tackles and his desire to impress should be heightened by the chance to feature against his former employers.

The 29-year-old has not been carded this season, but his unblemished disciplinary record could change with a booking in Lancashire.

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Preston North End v Sunderland odds

Preston North End - 23/10
Draw - 21/10
Sunderland - 13/10

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.