PREVIEW: SUNDERLAND (A)

28 November 2023

A look ahead to what awaits the Terriers at the Stadium of Light tomorrow evening

- Sunderland vs Huddersfield Town
- Wednesday 29 November 2023; 7.45pm
- Comprehensive preview of Town’s next opponents

Having beaten Town at the John Smith’s Stadium last season, the Terriers took a point from Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in return at the tail end of the campaign.

Meeting 38 times across history, both sides have enjoyed 15 victories each, with eight draws between them. First crossing paths at Leeds Road on 25 September 1920, the game ended goalless, and Town had to wait until Christmas in 1923 to get the better of the Black Cats for the first time.

Having played infrequently since the 1970s with the sides in different divisions, Town’s last victory at the Stadium of Light came in the League Cup back in 2003, with the Terriers running out 4-2 winners against then higher-league opponents.

THE OPPOSITION

Ninth placed Sunderland are currently three places and two points shy of the Play-Off places.

Looking to at least match last season’s top six finish, the Black Cats lost in the Play-Off Semi-Finals to Coventry City at the end of the previous campaign, having only rejoined the Sky Bet Championship that summer following promotion from Sky Bet League One.

Seven years removed from the Premier League - the longest run in their history - that will be their ultimate aim, having spent 10 consecutive seasons in the top tier prior to relegation.

THEIR MANAGER

Vastly experienced, Tony Mowbray is in second campaign as Sunderland boss having departed his position in charge of Blackburn Rovers at the end of the 2021/22 season.

A former central defender in his playing days for Middlesbrough, Celtic and Ipswich Town, he entered coaching soon after hanging his boots up, taking his first permanent role with Scottish side Hibernian before moving on to West Bromwich Albion.

Having performed well in the Midlands, a big move to Celtic came next in what was one of two returns to a former club for Mowbray, with his next step taking him away from Glasgow and back down to Middlesbrough.

A short spell with Coventry City came before taking the reigns at Ewood Park, and Mowbray remained in Lancashire for five years between 2017 and 2022, going full circle and returning to the North East with Sunderland in August 2022.

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LAST TIME OUT

Making the long trip to Devon to face Plymouth Argyle, the Black Cats were undone by two first half goals, with the home side seeing out a 2-0 victory.

Sunderland enjoyed the vast majority of possession, which resulted in more than twice as many shots and shots on target than Plymouth, but they didn’t have the cutting edge in front of goal that could have got them back in the game.

Conceding both of the attempts on target that Plymouth lodged, it was a result that Tony Mowbray described as “frustrating” as he saw his side as being “the dominant team” on the day.

Previous Starting XI: Patterson; Hume, O’Nien, Ballard, Huggins; Ekwah; Roberts, Neil, Bellingham, Clarke; Rusyn (4-1-4-1)

FORMATION

Sunderland have operated with a lone striker formation in all but two games this season, having made a switch from 4-2-3-1 to 4-1-4-1 midway through the current campaign.

An attacking side, they have prioritised a system that allows them to have as many of their attacking players on the pitch at the same time as possible, leaving one dedicated holding midfielder in place to drop into the backline while the full-backs push forward.

Also able to adapt their shape to accommodate a second forward, they have been susceptible on the break, as shown in their previous defeat to Plymouth Argyle.

WHO TO WATCH

Luke O’Nien

Central defender O’Nien has only missed one game for Sunderland in the Sky Bet Championship this season serving a one game suspension, starting on every other occasion. Wearing the armband this season, he has previously turned outin defensive midfield and right back for the club, but has settled in the centre of defence this season.

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Jobe Bellingham

Signed from Birmingham City in the summer, 18-year-old Bellingham has hit the ground running at the Stadium of Light, starting in every one of their Sky Bet Championship outings so far this season. Registering three goals and an assist, he’s become a fixture in midfield, with his ability to carry the ball up field, draw fouls and provide a physical presence in the final third a new point of attack for his team.

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Jack Clarke

Since rejoining Sunderland permanently from Tottenham Hotspur after a successful period on loan, Clarke has gone from strength-to-strength, establishing himself as one of the most dangerous attacking players in the league. With plenty of experience under his belt at 23, York born Clarke has started each league game for Sunderland this season, scoring nine goals and making one assist.

TOWN TEAM NEWS

Town boss Darren Moore shared a full update on how his was shaping up after the weekend’s fixture with Southampton at his latest press conference, live on HTTV from the Millers Oils High Performance Complex, which supporters can watch back in full below.

KIT

It will be stripes against stripes at the Stadium of Light with Town due to line-up in our traditional home blue and white strip as Sunderland don their red and white.

Supporters who want to get their 2023/24 home kit while stocks last can do so online and in store at our Club Shop - CLICK HERE to shop now!

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TICKET NEWS

This is an all-ticket fixture with no pay on the day at the Stadium of Light available.

Although tickets are now off sale from our home ticket office, supporters can still purchase their ticket in the away end direct from Sunderland.

CLICK HERE to book.

iFOLLOW HTAFC

Available on iFollow HTAFC to stream live with match passes and audio match passes, supporters can CLICK HERE to book the game to watch along from home.

Also available via Sky Sports’ red button offering, supporters with a subscription will also be able to watch live on television.

Match Reports

REPORT: SUNDERLAND 1-2 TOWN

29 November 2023

A first away win under Darren Moore!

- Sunderland 1-2 Huddersfield Town
- A first victory on the road under Darren Moore
- Goals from Michał Helik and Delano Burgzorg

Town recorded a deserved first away win under Darren Moore’s management on a freezing cold night in Wearside, with goals from Michał Helik and Delano Burgzorg securing all three points against promotion-chasing Sunderland!

Helik’s fifth of the season gave the Terriers the lead in the first half before Luke O’Nien’s equaliser pegged us back, but the returning Delano Burgzorg netted a second half winner to send the Town fans in attendance home happy.

Moore made one change to the side that drew with Southampton at the weekend, replacing the injured Kian Harratt with fit-again Delano Burgzorg, and the setup was the same as the one that impressed against the Saints in the second half. Against the side that has the third highest average possession in the league, Town looked to contain their opponents before springing pacey counterattacks.

That worked well in the first 45, with Town causing problems. Just 12 seconds in, Burgzorg almost capitalised on hesitation between a defender and Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson to latch onto the ball in the box, but the custodian recovered well enough to smother his shot.

Burgzorg was in the action again in the fourth minute, helping to create a huge early chance. He beat a man before sliding a pass to the right for Josh Koroma, whose excellent, early low cross found Jaheim Headley. Patterson did well again, sensing the danger and narrowing the angle to make a save with his body.

Having stifled the hosts effectively, Koroma led another break on the quarter hour mark. This time he found Burgzorg ahead of him, but the on-loan Mainz player could only hit the outside of the side netting with his shot from a very narrow angle.

Chris Maxwell’s first save of the game in the 24th minute was a comfortable one from Adil Aouchiche’s curler from outside the area.

Town still looked threatening, and that was rewarded with the lead from a 28th minute set-piece – won when another counter from Koroma forced a defender to knock the ball behind. Sorba Thomas – on his 100th Town appearance – floated a deep delivery to the back post where Tom Lees returned a header across for Helik to nod home at close range. That was the Polish international’s fifth of the season.

Sadly for us, Sunderland found a way to level before the interval. Maxwell had to make a good save beforehand, pushing dangerman Jack Clarke’s free kick around his left-hand post after Helik had dragged down striker Eliezer Mayenda. However, he could do nothing to prevent a very similar Sunderland goal to Town’s opener in the 39th minute – Patrick Roberts’ deep free kick was headed back across goal for captain Luke O’Nien to volley home from a matter of yards.

The two sides traded speculative efforts as the second half got under way, but Maxwell had to come to the rescue again as the hour mark passed. Jobe Bellingham received a fantastic through pass that put him clear behind Matty Pearson, but our goalkeeper did superbly to come out and block his eventual shot with his left foot.

The Black Cats were having their best spell of the game so far at this stage, with Maxwell soon having to claw a curling Trai Hume effort out of the top corner – but then Town took the lead again!

The second came in the 67th minute, and Jaheim Headley deserved massive credit for his role in the goal. Picking the ball up on halfway, he chested it down before driving powerfully through the heart of the opposition. He made his way to the edge of the Sunderland box before an opponent finally tackled him, but the rebound fell to Delano Burgzorg, whose first time snapshot beat Patterson to his right and found the far corner.

Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray made five changes to try and find a way back into the game in the final 20 minutes, whereas Darren Moore welcomed Danny Ward back from his long injury lay-off.

Understandably Sunderland enjoyed the territorial pressure as they tried to find a leveller. Twice Maxwell had to save from former Town man Alex Pritchard and Clarke, who had efforts from our right side, whereas at the other end Thomas crashed a speculative shot well over on the break.

However, Town saw out the five minutes of added time to secure a massive three points.

Town’s team (3-4-3)
Chris Maxwell; Matty Pearson, Michał Helik, Tom Lees; Ben Jackson, David Kasumu, Jonathan Hogg (c) (Rarmani Edmonds-Green, 87’), Jaheim Headley; Sorba Thomas, Delano Burgzorg (Danny Ward, 68’), Josh Koroma (Brahima Diarra, 68’)

Unused substitutes
Jacob Chapman; Tom Edwards, Yuta Nakayama, Josh Austerfield, Loick Ayina, Tom Iorpenda

Town booking
Tom Lees (39’)

Gate
37,728

Get your ticket for our return to the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday 9 December against Bristol City – click HERE to buy online now!