PREVIEW: SUNDERLAND (A)

17 April 2023

All you need to know ahead of our next Sky Bet Championship fixture

- Sunderland vs Huddersfield Town
- 7.45pm kick-off at the Stadium of Light
- Available to listen on iFollow HTAFC

The Terriers will continue their 2022/23 Sky Bet Championship campaign on Tuesday 18 April at the Stadium of Light where they will take on Sunderland; 7.45pm kick-off.

Town will be going into this game looking to improve on their defeat against Sunderland in November, where they conceded two goals to the Wearside team. Goals from Amad Diallo and Alex Pritchard secured the visitors’ win.

THE OPPOSITION

Sunderland currently reside 10th in the Sky Bet Championship. Last season the North East side finished fifth in Sky Bet League One, qualifying for the Play-Offs. In their semi-final, they beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 on aggregate and went on to beat Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 in the final, securing their return to the second flight of English football.

Tony Mowbray is the current Head Coach of Sunderland. Spending his on field career playing for the likes of Middlesbrough, Celtic and Ipswich Town, the north Yorkshireman left Blackburn Rovers and joined Sunderland toward the beginning of the 2022/23 season following the departure of Alex Neil.

ONES TO WATCH

Amad Diallo

Born in the Côte d'Ivoire, Diallo is currently the top goal scorer for the Black Cats. Amad signed for Sunderland at the beginning of this season on a loan deal from Manchester United. Having made his senior breakthrough at just 17 with Atalanta he made the move to Old Trafford where he represented United in the UEFA Champions League, as well as playing and scoring for the senior Côte d'Ivoire national team. Having spent the previous season on loan with Rangers in the Scottish Premiership, the forward has made a real impact for the Championship club scoring 12 goals and creating three assists so far this season.

Amad Diallo Sunderland 2023 16x9.png

Alex Pritchard

A familiar face for Town, Alex Pritchard gained the advantage for the Black Cats in the two nil victory against back in November. The midfielder climbed through the ranks at West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur, making his senior debut for the latter in 2014. Pritchard joined Sunderland in July 2021 at the expiration of his Town contract. Having represented England at U20 and U21 level and playing over 44 Premier League matches, Pritchard has real pedigree to his name, underlined by a place in the 2014/15 Sky Bet Championship Team of the Year during his time on loan with Brentford.

Alex Pritchard Sunderland 2023 16x9.png

Jack Clarke

After an initial loan at the end of the 2021/22 season, Jack Clarke made the move to Sunderland permanent from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2022 on a four-year-deal. The 22-year-old midfielder started his career with Leeds United, where he made 22 senior appearances before his move to Spurs, but returned to his first club on loan as part of the agreement. Clarke also had loan spells with Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City before his move to Sunderland. Sitting as third top goal scorer for Sunderland so far this season, the youngster has 10 goals as well as 10 assists in his 44 appearances.

Jack Clarke Sunderland 2023 16x9.png

TEAM NEWS

Hear from Manager Neil Warnock in his latest press conference as he previewed the fixture from the Millers Oils High Performance Complex.

KIT

Our Terriers will be in their famous blue and white stripes for their trip to the Stadium of Light on Tuesday evening.

CLICK HERE to purchase your 2022/23 home shirt for less than half price!

Watford Highlights 1920 - PHOTOS_.jpg

TICKET NEWS

For full ticket information ahead of our Wearside trip including prices, travel information, and Pay on the Day, please CLICK HERE.

iFOLLOW HTAFC

If you’re unable to attend the game on Tuesday evening, you can watch and listen along via iFollow HTAFC!

A single match pass for the games is just £10, and supporters will be able to stream the full 90 minutes of action for that price.

Live audio commentary will be available for the game when you purchase either a Monthly Pass or Audio Match Pass. You can purchase a Monthly Pass for £4.49 or an Audio Match Pass for £2.50.

CLICK HERE to sign up to iFollow HTAFC!

Match Reports

REPORT: SUNDERLAND 1-1 TOWN

18 April 2023

Josh Koroma goal in second half secures deserved point for Town

- Sunderland 1-1 Huddersfield Town
- Joe Gelhardt opened scoring in the first half
- Equaliser in the second half from Josh Koroma

An intense Sky Bet Championship game at the Stadium of Light, with both sides showing unwavering effort and determination, saw Town secure a point thanks to a second half goal from Josh Koroma.

A strong Town side restricted Sunderland this evening in the Sky Bet Championship and created some brilliant chances in a full team performance, with Jaheim Headley and Brahima Diarra putting our hosts through the works, not to mention Josh Koroma's equaliser to lift the spirits of our travelling fans – all on the back of our starting side playing the full 90 minutes without a substitute made.

Manager Neil Warnock made two changes coming into this evening’s game with Josh Ruffels and Josh Koroma returning to the starting line-up, with Jonathan Hogg out due to a knock and Rarmani Edmonds-Green amongst our substitutes on the bench. Due to the absence of Hogg, Tom Lees led our Terriers against Sunderland.

Despite Town starting the game strong and having great chances, the Black Cats secured a one goal advantage in the first half due to a goal from Joe Gelhardt in the 35th minute.

Before this, the first chance for Town came from Danny Ward in the centre of the box after he hit a ball from Ruffels first time from close range, but this chance was deflected after it was blocked well by Sunderland and Town were awarded their first corner of the game.

Dan Neil was shown a yellow card not long after the corner for a foul on Brahima Diarra in our attacking half as the youngster put in the work and challenged for the ball in space. This free kick led to Town’s second corner as it fell to Ruffels who’s cross was knocked out by Alex Pritchard.

Our Czech Republic international ‘keeper made a fantastic save to keep the score level just before the Sunderland goal as he got down to his left and palmed the ball away.

The north east side took the lead through Gelhardt’s shot from just outside the box as he slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

B Team midfielder Diarra regained possession again brought the team forward, from this Ruffels crossed the ball to Headley who sliced wide for a very narrow angle.

Headley had the last chance of the first half with a powerful strike from outside the box, but just goes high and over the bar – which meant the Terriers trailed going into the second half.

Just after the break, Headley was shown the yellow card in attempt to stop a Sunderland break. The second half also saw yellow cards shown David Kasumu as well as Sunderland’s captain Danny Batth for a foul on Headley.

After a better start in the second half for the Terriers, Koroma crossed the ball out wide the Headley at the far post, but his shot is rushed and goes just wide after it went across the face of goal.

Despite the ball being in the back of the net for Town, the referee gave a free kick to Sunderland due to a push in the build-up.

Then, in the 59th minute, Koroma equalised for the Terriers! Josh drove through the Black Cats’ midfield to the edge of the box and struck the ball into the back of the net, after a deflection, and into the far corner.

Diallo proved to be a real threat as his shot from range towards the bottom corner forced Tomáš Vaclík to tip the ball round the post for a corner, which is defended well by Town.

An intense three minutes of extra time saw both sides determined to find the winner, which included Jack Clarke being shown the yellow card after a foul on Koroma.

Town’s Team (4-2-3-1)
Tomáš Vaclík; Matty Pearson, Tom Lees, Michał Helik, Josh Ruffels; David Kasumu, Jack Rudoni; Josh Koroma, Brahima Diarra, Jaheim Headley; Danny Ward

Unused Substitutes
Nicholas Bilokapic, Jordan Rhodes, Joe Hungbo, Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Ben Jackson, Matt Lowton, Martyn Waghorn

Town’s Bookings
Jaheim Headley (47’), David Kasumu (67’)