Sunderland vs Hull City: How to watch, team news, recent form and referee

All you need to know ahead of Sunderland's Championship game against Hull City.

Author:
Will Jeffries
Publish date:
Apr 6, 2023 9:29 PM EDT

Sunderland face a double header over the Easter weekend starting with a home game against Hull City on Good Friday at the Stadium of Light as the Black Cats look to mount one final push for the play-offs.

Sunderland will wear red shorts for the match against Hull City which backs the Foundation of Lights ‘small change big difference’ campaign.

Last time out, Sunderland secured a hard fought 0-0 stalemate away at top of the table Burnley, while Hull City played out a 0-0 goalless draw against Rotherham United.

How to watch

When: Friday 7th April 2023 - kick-off: 5:30pm
Where: Stadium of Light
TV: Sky Sports football

Team news

Alex Pritchard will be available for Sunderland after suffering with a small issue earlier this week, while Dennis Cirkin is also fit and available after continuing his recuperation from concussion suffered against Millwall in February.

Oscar Estupinan (ankle) and Aaron Connolly (toe) will both be missing for Hull City when they travel to Wearside on Good Friday.

However, Dimitrios Pelkas has recovered from illness and will be in the squad to face the Black Cats.

Last meeting

The two teams last played each other on Saturday 17th December 2022, as the two sides played out a 1-1 draw with the Sunderland goal being scored by Ross Stewart.

The game also saw Elliot Embleton sent off for a 50/50 tackle in which he suffered a long-term ankle injury in the process.

Sunderland team: Patterson, Gooch, O'Nien, Batth, Alese, Evans, Neil, Diallo, Embleton, Clarke, Simms

Recent form

Sunderland: LWLDD
Hull City: WDLDD

Head-to-head (last 10 matches)

Sunderland wins: 3
Draws: 5
Hull City wins: 2

Who is the referee for Sunderland vs Hull City

Keith Stroud will take charge of this game and has refereed 32 matches over the last 12 months in which he has issued 160 yellow cards.

He will be assisted by Sam Lewis and Matthew Smith, with Ross Joyce acting as the fourth official.

What the Managers have said

Tony Mowbray believes his side still has plenty to play for as he targets three points on Good Friday against a Hull City side who like to keep possession while overloading areas of the pitch.

Mowbray said: "We have talked about the next group of games really and I feel as if there is an opportunity for us.

"If we can get through the first one, and then we go to Cardiff, who I think are fourth bottom at the moment. They are fighting for their lives and have fantastic support but it's also a game against a team with anxiety. We've been good on the road so I feel as if we can go to Cardiff and give them some problems.

"Then we have back-to-back home games against Birmingham and Huddersfield, and all of a sudden...

"We sit here and we shouldn't be giving up on an exciting end to the season.

"What will put pay to that of course is if we don't find a way to beat Hull, go to Cardiff and get beat and all of a sudden there are five games left and you are miles and miles away and you're not going to do it.

"If we can win the next few games it makes the next home games after that really exciting because if you win four on the bounce in this league you can catapult yourself right up there.

"We have still got all to play for, I would suggest."

Liam Rosenior is excited for his side to be playing against a top team in Sunderland on Good Friday in front of a big crowd live on Sky Sports, and is hoping his side is just as excited.

Rosenior said: "We're going away to a massive club with a massive following live on Sky on Good Friday. We're taking an unbelievable amount on fans. That's why we're in football.

"The way the team have trained this week, they are all eager for the game on Friday against Sunderland.

"I can't wait to go there and see us express ourselves and play the way we want to play.

"Can we go there and dominate a good young team with a very good manager who does things in a way I really like? It's going to be a great game between two footballing teams."

Sunderland predicted line-up vs Hull City (4-2-3-1)

Mowbray will likely opt too bring Amad Diallo back into the side with Alex Pritchard the most likely to drop out.

Sunderland predicted line-up: Patterson; Hume, O'Nien, Batth, Gooch; Neil, Ekwah; Roberts, Amad, Clarke; Clarke