Joe Nicholson is joined by Preston writer George Hodgson from Lancashire Live to preview Sunderland's Championship match against The Lilywhites.
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00:36 Hello and welcome to the Raw podcast brought to you by the Sunderland Echo.
00:41 We're back for another preview podcast and today we're going to be looking ahead to
00:46 Sunderland's championship trip to Preston this weekend. So to preview the game, joining myself
00:52 Joe Nicholson, we are joined by George Hodgson from Lancashire Live. George, how's things?
00:57 Yeah, all good mate. Hope you're all good too. Looking forward to Saturday.
01:02 Should be a good one I think.
01:04 It should be, yeah. Well, we'll come on to Preston's form and how they're shaping up ahead
01:08 of the game. They finished 12th in the championship last season. Sunderland weren't there actually
01:14 not too long ago when they were 3-0 on the final day of the regular season last season. So what's
01:21 the kind of mood like at Preston now coming into this new campaign? They finished 12th as I said
01:26 last season, but they did have quite a difficult run towards the end of last season, didn't they,
01:31 taking only one point from their last five games?
01:34 Yeah, it was kind of typical Preston that, kind of flurried with the playoffs and then
01:38 when it got to the crunch stage, just kind of fell away. Yeah, horrible one to finish on
01:44 against Sunderland, but the 10 minutes, they were just too good, weren't they? Some unbelievable
01:48 goals scored and you can't give them players that kind of space. But Preston have started all right.
01:53 They got a point at Bristol City on the opening day and they were 1-0 down with a couple of minutes
01:57 left. So to take a point there, I think was a real positive. Fans that went seemed to think that
02:04 Preston were good in the second half and deserve to take a point, maybe all three and never an easy
02:09 place to go. So definitely a solid start there. But there is a lot of injuries in Preston's squad
02:15 at the minute and you feel they still need a couple of signings. So Ryan Lowe's squad isn't
02:20 particularly strong at the minute. It's quite thin, but I'm sure they'll back themselves to
02:25 give a good show in this weekend and potentially pick up a point, all three, it'd be even better.
02:33 Well, we'll come on to the injuries soon as you mentioned them there. So who are the players that
02:37 are missing out and then who are the key players that Sunderland will have to watch out for on
02:42 Saturday? So we've literally got one fit senior striker at the minute, which is Will Keane,
02:47 who scored at Bristol City and he's got a man. Signed from Wigan.
02:51 Sorry, yeah, sorry, scored at Bristol City on the opening day, signed from Wigan. Could be a really
02:58 smart pick up that. 12 goals last season. Enil Rees is injured until next month. Ched Evans is
03:05 out until December. I don't know if you read about his issue, but potentially career-ending injury.
03:10 But he's had surgery and hopefully get him back in December. So you're missing them two strikers,
03:16 obviously Tom Cannon, who both our clubs have been linked with, has yet to move. So we've literally
03:21 got Keane up front as a senior striker at the minute. Robbie Brady's picked up a knock, so we're
03:27 relying on a really young lad at left wing back in Keane Best, who made his professional debut
03:32 at Bristol City. Calvin Ramsey, right wing back, picked up an issue. Ryan Lopez, 3-5-2, and he's
03:40 missing wing backs on both sides. So real challenge for Preston in this early part of the season just
03:46 to get some results and maybe after a month or so, the team will start to take shape and you'll
03:51 see the best of Preston. But yeah, injury's not ideal at the minute.
03:56 As you say, Keane probably looks like a decent pick-up on a free from Wigan, considering he got
04:02 I think about over 10 goals last season in the Championship for a team that got relegated. But
04:06 who are the kind of other players that Sunderland will have to watch out for and who are the
04:10 key players in this Preston team?
04:12 Sounds funny, but Preston's goalkeeper, Freddie Woodman, is a massive player. He probably earned
04:18 Preston 10-plus points with saves last season and he was just a really solid addition, a good
04:23 pedigree. And obviously he'll be right up for this one, only with his Newcastle connection.
04:28 Elsewhere, we've brought Mads Frockjaer in from Odense, an attacking midfielder. I think he's
04:35 cost about £1.2 million. So Preston don't really spend that kind of money too often and they've not
04:41 recruited particularly extensively from overseas. So he's one the Preston fans are really excited
04:46 about. He's scored a couple of brilliant goals against Aberdeen in pre-season. He can attack
04:51 the box, he can shoot from distance. So I think Sunderland will have to watch out for him,
04:56 assuming he starts tomorrow. It'd be a gobsmacked if he's not in the team.
04:58 What's the expectation then of Preston this season? Because I remember at the end of last
05:04 season, I think it was just before the Sunderland game, Ryan Lowe came up with some quite strong
05:08 comments, kind of questioning the club's direction at the end of last season. But there are a lot of
05:14 teams in the Championship with big budgets that we'll all expect to be in the top six. So what
05:19 is kind of the goal at Preston, would you say, this season? Yeah, it was incredible that after
05:24 Sheffield United away, you know, promotion, chasing team and we got battered 4-1. And I think it just
05:29 dawned on him that we're quite far away really. And he's a really ambitious manager who wants to
05:35 push at the top of the table. But Preston have got to be realistic this year. I think playoff push
05:40 would be an unbelievable achievement if they can get in and around there again. But it just looks
05:45 so strong, the division this season, doesn't it? And I think a solid mid-table finish. Preston have
05:52 never been in trouble of relegation in their eight years since they went up from League One. And
05:55 got to ensure that's the case again, first and foremost, and then try and break into that next
06:01 batch of teams. But you look at the squads and the transfers being done and the teams coming down,
06:06 and you just wonder how they're ever going to really push that. But you never know, do you?
06:10 You've seen the likes of Uten, so Preston need to take it, cliche, but really take it week by week
06:16 and see where they go. As you mentioned, Preston getting an opening day draw away at Bristol City,
06:23 they were then beaten on penalties in the Carabao Cup by Salford in midweek. So how have the sides
06:30 kind of looked in those first two games and over the summer in pre-season as well?
06:37 Pre-season was strange for Preston because some of their signings were brought in quite late on
06:42 and there was injuries. You just had loads of young lads involved, which it's great to see them,
06:48 but are they ready to then go into the Championship and play? There was only so much you could take
06:54 from pre-season. I think four of those lads got minutes against Salford in the first half. It was
07:00 a challenge for them and they might be ready one day, but I think we saw on Tuesday that the level
07:04 they've got to try and get to to be playing for Preston's first team. Bristol, loads of positives
07:10 from that game. You take a point away on the opening day, the midfield looked like they were
07:13 good, loads of energy in there, real character to come from behind and take a point and they could
07:19 have had all three really, created some good chances. Again, when they brought the senior
07:24 players on against Salford on Tuesday, they should have gone and won the game. They had two goals
07:28 that were ruled off for offside and I think they were both onside on second viewing. Preston's
07:36 first team at the minute should be able to give Sunderland a good game, I think.
07:39 Yes, sounds like a few parallels with Sunderland there in terms of the Carabao Cup game. Sunderland
07:44 made a lot of changes for their game against Crewe and then ended up losing on penalty. Probably
07:49 should have won the game in the second half when they brought some of their first team players on.
07:53 But you mentioned that Preston play with a 3-5-2. I think Ryan Lowe's kind of always
07:58 played with that system. So how do you think they will match up against Sunderland? Have you seen
08:03 much of Sunderland and what do you kind of make of them? Yes, it's a big decision to make because
08:09 I mentioned Kieran Best, who's this really young, inexperienced left wing back and he did all right
08:13 at Bristol City. But if Sunderland go with 4-2-3, what is it, Sunderland? And you've got someone
08:19 like Patrick Roberts, that is a massive challenge. He's so tricky, isn't he, to deal with him. So
08:24 we'll see just how much Lowe truly really believes in Best and how well he's done in training if he
08:29 gets the chance to try and defend against somebody like that. I think going to a back four is a real
08:35 option. You've got Andrew Hughes or Greg Cunningham who could just slide in at a normal left back and
08:39 you play a kind of deep back four and maybe go with that. But Preston don't really have any
08:44 wingers and we've only got one striker. So I would lean towards a 3-4-2-1 with two attacking number
08:50 10s in behind Will Keane as a kind of focal point link player. He can do a bit of everything. So
08:57 he's your only option at the minute. So he has to play and then around that we'll have to see. But
09:00 yes, I love watching Sunderland last season whenever I saw them. I think you see so many
09:06 teams playing like 3-5-2 these days and the winger is kind of a dying art, but Sunderland's a quality
09:12 to watch. So fun and tricky. So hopefully they're not on the game on Saturday. But yes, the likes of
09:18 Clark and Roberts are just a joy to watch when they're on it. Yes, well those two are the standout
09:24 players. Sunderland, they've lost Ahmad from last season who scored that cracking goal against
09:28 Preston. He was alright, wasn't he? Yes, I think that was the best one I saw from him. He scored
09:32 quite a few like that, but I think that was my favourite one. The one where he curled it in
09:36 first time. But yes, he won't be playing on Saturday. A player who has been linked, as you
09:41 mentioned earlier, with both clubs is Tom Cannon, who was on loan at Preston last season. Did very
09:47 well there on loan from Everton. How much have they kind of missed him since the end of last season?
09:52 Yes, it's just numbers. He was brilliant, Cannon. He took a while to get going,
09:59 but eventually once he got his first, his finishing was just brilliant. Whenever he got a chance,
10:04 just that cool head in the final third, it makes such a difference at this level.
10:09 And if Preston can get him back, you wouldn't go as far to say you'd expect him to push the
10:14 playoffs, but you wouldn't be worried about being down there or anything like that because you'd
10:19 have a really good goalkeeper and a really good striker who you can bank on getting 10, 15,
10:23 maybe more goals. So, we'll have to see where he goes. But yes, Preston couldn't half do with him
10:28 now. They're desperate to get him in on loan and Everton just seem to be waiting and waiting
10:33 forever to send him out. We'll have to see. I'm not sure what's going to happen there.
10:39 You think that's something that could happen then, potentially he could go back to Preston,
10:42 send him one of the many clubs as well that have been linked with him?
10:44 Yes, I think if he goes on loan, I think Preston have a great chance because I think he liked his
10:49 time here. He came to us pre-season friendly against Aberdeen in the box, which was really
10:55 strange for him to still not have signed since then. But yes, I think my only worry would be
11:01 if somebody tables a big bid, Preston don't have that kind of money, Everton would be potentially
11:07 tempted to sell him, we'll have to see. But if it's a straight loan, I think Preston would back
11:11 themselves and they'd have a good chance. But yes, the likes of Sunderland, big clubs, competition,
11:16 it's always going to worry Preston fans. I think that he might go elsewhere because we lost Cameron
11:20 Archer to Middlesbrough when we wanted him back. So, it could be a case of deja vu. But I think
11:25 there is more confidence with Cannon this time. And obviously, it's the first home game of the
11:31 season, first league home game of the season for Preston with Sunderland coming to Deepdale. So,
11:36 what's the mood like among the Preston fan base? I imagine there'll be a decent crowd there as well
11:41 for the game against Sunderland. I think so, yes. I think I saw 19,000 tweeted out yesterday,
11:46 which I don't know if that includes Sunderland fans or not. But either way, Deepdale should be
11:51 packed. The Sunderland away end on that final day was unbelievable. It felt like an England away end
11:58 or something. I can't remember the songs they were singing, but it just looked brilliant white and
12:01 red, didn't it? And they'll pack it right out again. And when Deepdale's full, it's one of the
12:05 best grounds in the championship for me. So, yes, Preston will get behind the team. Sure,
12:09 Sunderland obviously will. And yes, when the fixtures come out and you see Sunderland at home,
12:14 the first game, it's one of them that kind of whets the appetite. So, yes, the players should
12:20 need no getting up for this. It should be a good occasion, I think. Well, just finally, George,
12:25 before we wrap up there, just going to ask you for a quick score prediction. How do you think
12:29 the game is going to go and how Sunderland will match up against Preston on Saturday?
12:34 Yes, I think it'll be tough, hopefully an entertaining game. Back Preston to get a point,
12:40 so I'll go for 1-1. But how was Sunderland defensively against Ipswich? That would be my
12:45 question to you, because obviously we know Sunderland are going to come with loads of
12:49 attacking power. But can they be there? Are they there to be got at?
12:52 Well, it's quite different the way that Sunderland play. It's kind of a theme that's carried on from
12:56 last season, that Sunderland have been better away from home than they have been at home. At home,
13:01 they will see a lot more of the ball. They're kind of expected to create the play, but they are more
13:06 vulnerable on the counter-attack when they play with quite a high line. Whereas away from home,
13:10 last season, we saw them sit a little bit deeper and they could be the team that
13:14 hit teams on the counter-attack. They got some very good away wins at Norwich and West Brom last
13:18 season, whereas at home they struggled a little bit more. So I thought against Ipswich, they
13:22 defended quite well the first half. They looked pretty comfortable and were quite dominant in the
13:26 first half, but then a couple of lapses of concentration at the back saw them concede
13:31 two goals. But I think, as I said before, it could be quite a different defensive kind of set-up.
13:36 How do you think Preston would approach it at home? Do you think they'll try and dominate the ball
13:41 playing at Deakdale?
13:43 Yeah, they were poor at home last season. Preston, similar to Sunderland, just
13:47 much better away from home. I'm not sure what the point difference was. But yeah, again,
13:54 the team's game to set up. Preston just didn't have that 1v1 quality really to break them down,
13:59 other than Alvaro Fernandes, who was from United. Obviously, he's not here this season.
14:03 Yeah, if Sunderland defend well, then they've got that attacking quality on the break, haven't they?
14:09 So it'd be fascinating. I think Ryan Lowe wants Preston to dominate games at home and certainly
14:15 give fans more to cheer about. So it's a big one, this really, for him to get the fans on side and
14:21 get up and running with a point or three at home.
14:24 Yeah, Sunderland obviously trying to get back on track as well after that defeat against Ipswich
14:28 and then going out of the Cup, which wasn't a priority. But you'd obviously rather get through
14:32 than not get through. But I think playing away from home could suit Sunderland. As I said before,
14:38 it did last season when they went to Preston. So I'll go for a 2-1 Sunderland win. Yeah,
14:44 it's quite, seems like quite an important game, even though it's quite early in the season for
14:48 both clubs to try and get their first win of the season in the Championship. So George,
14:53 thanks a lot for joining us on the latest episode of the Raw Podcast.
14:57 No worries. No worries at all.
14:59 And if you like what we do here at the Raw Podcast, you can consider subscribing
15:03 on our YouTube channel or wherever you listen to your podcasts and leaving a review. And then for
15:09 the latest SAFC news, you can head over to the SAFC section of the Sunderland Echo website.
15:15 You can find the thoughts of head coach Tony Mowbray, who's going to be speaking to the media
15:19 on Friday afternoon. And we'll also have live updates from Deepdale as Sunderland take on
15:25 Preston, as well as post-match reaction and analysis. So once again, thanks a lot for
15:31 listening to the Raw Podcast.