Both looking to return to action after the international break with a victory, Sunderland and Preston North End will square off at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
The hosts sit fifth in the Championship with 15 points from their opening 10 games, while their visitors are three points worse off after three matches without a victory.
Match preview
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On their return to the Championship after winning promotion from League One last season, Sunderland have enjoyed a positive start to the new campaign, putting themselves in the top six at the first international break with 15 points from 10 contests.
They have already undergone change, though, with the second of those victories - a 2-0 beating of Stoke City - being immediately followed by the departure of manager Alex Neil, and Tony Mowbray was then appointed to lead the Black Cats forward.
In his four games at the helm thus far, the new boss has overseen two victories, including a 3-0 beating of Rotherham United in his first game before they fell short away at rivals Midlesbrough.
The Stadium of Light outfit would bounce back in impressive fashion, scoring another 3-0 victory in the following encounter away at Reading, thanks to a Patrick Roberts brace and a Jack Clarke goal, before heading into the break on the back of a 2-2 draw away at newly-relegated Watford as Jewison Bennette snatched a point in the dying minutes with an equaliser.
Now hoping to pick up where they left off and strengthen their position at the top end of the division, the Black Cats will go in search of a fifth league win of the season and a second on home turf on Saturday.
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They welcome a Preston North End side who went into the break in somewhat of an ebb and will aim to bounce back in positive fashion.
The Lilywhites' season thus far has certainly been defined by their defensive stability, with no other Championship side conceding as few as the four goals they have shipped in 10 games, but with only three goals of their own in that period, they have only managed 12 points.
The second of their two wins thus far came away at Coventry City at the end of August, as Emil Riis Jakobsen hit the only goal of the game, but they have been unable to strengthen their position since, firstly losing at home to Birmingham City before rescuing a point against rivals Burnley.
Ryan Lowe's men most recently hosted league leaders Sheffield United prior to the international break, and they were again shut out by the opposition, while goals from Iliman Ndiaye and Oli McBurnie saw them condemned to a 2-0 defeat at Deepdale.
Having now dropped to 15th spot in the second tier, the Lancashire outfit will be desperate to correct their attacking form and kickstart a climb up the division with a run of positive results starting on Saturday.
Team News
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Sunderland will again be unable to call on key striker Ross Stewart, who has hit the net five times in seven Championship appearances this term after helping them win promotion with 26 League One goals last season, as he continues to nurse an injury, while regular strike partner Ellis Simms will also remain on the sidelines.
Elsewhere, exciting 18-year-old Jewison Bennette, who hit a brace on international duty for Costa Rica after netting the Black Cats' equaliser against Watford last time out, may not break into the starting XI given he only returned to training on Friday, meaning Patrick Roberts and Jack Clarke will again be relied on heavily going forward.
They could continue to flank Alex Pritchard and Elliot Embleton, with the duo having more attacking responsibility given the squad's injuries, while Bailey Wright could come back in at centre-back alongside Danny Batth in the absence of Dan Ballard.
Preston North End should have a full squad to pick from after the returns of the likes of Andrew Hughes, although he may have to wait for a start after Greg Cunningham stepped into the back three alongside Liam Lindsay and Jordan Storey in impressive fashion.
Lowe should stick with Emil Riis Jakobsen up front, despite the striker only managing one goal so far this season, after he top-scored for the Lilywhites with 16 goals in the Championship last term.
He could again be partnered by Tottenham Hotspur loanee Troy Parrott, with Brad Potts and Robbie Brady set to operate as wing-backs and Daniel Johnson, Alan Browne, Ali McCann, Ryan Ledson and Ben Whiteman all fighting for places in midfield.
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Gooch, Wright, Batth, Alese; Neil, Evans; Clarke, Roberts; Embleton, Pritchard
Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Cunningham; Potts, Whiteman, McCann, Brady; Browne; Riis, Parrott
We say: Sunderland 1-0 Preston North End
Sunderland appear to be able to manage even without their star strikers and boast home advantage on Saturday, while their visitors have shown a concerning lack of attacking thrust this season, and we see the Black Cats having enough to break down the resilient Lilywhites defence while keeping their opponents out at the other end.
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Top tip
Sam Varley
