Sunderland vs Reading Preview: How to watch, team news, recent form and referee

All you need to know ahead of the Championship game between Sunderland and Reading.

Author:
Will Jeffries
Publish date:
Feb 10, 2023 5:17 PM EST

Reading are the visitors to the Stadium of Light this weekend, as the Black Cats look to put their midweek FA Cup disappointment behind them and push for a play-off spot.

The Black Cats will be looking to secure back-to-back home wins while going three games unbeaten.

Last time out, Sunderland earned a hard fought 1-1 draw away at Millwall, while Reading held promotion chasing Watford at home in 2-2 draw.

How to Watch Sunderland vs Reading

When: Saturday 11th February 2023 - Kick Off: 3pm
Where: Stadium of Light
How to watch: SAFC Live stream (International)

Due to EFL broadcasting restrictions in the UK, SAFC live streaming of the match is only available to overseas supporters.

Team News

Dennis Cirkin once again misses out for Sunderland as he continues to follow concussion protocols, but Joe Gelhardt and Joe Anderson are available after being ineligible for the FA Cup in midweek.

Meanwhile Isaac Lihadji has received his International clearance and could make his debut from the bench.

Alex Pritchard and Luke O’Nien will be pushing for a place in the starting line-up after both come off the bench as second-half substitutes in midweek.

Naby Sarr and Andy Carroll will be available for Reading after returning from injury and suspension respectively. However, Mamadou Loum will miss the match as he serves a two match suspension for accumulating 10 yellow cards.

Last Meeting

The two sides last played each other on Wednesday 14th September 2022, with the Black Cats prevailing 3-0 winners at the Select Car Leasing Stadium with goals from Jack Clarke and a Patrick Roberts Double.

Sunderland team: Patterson, O'Nien, Batth, Alese, Gooch, Neil, Evans, Clarke, Roberts, Pritchard, Simms

Recent Form

Sunderland: WDLWD
Reading: DLDLD

Head-to-Head (last 10 matches)

Sunderland wins: 4
Draws: 1
Reading wins: 5

Who is the referee for Sunderland vs Reading?

David Coote will take charge of this match, and has refereed 29 matches over the last 12 months and has issued 49 yellow cards.

Coote last refereed a Sunderland match on Tuesday 10th April 2018, when the Black Cats played out a 1-1 draw with Norwich City at the Stadium of Light.

He will be assisted by Nick Hopton and Timothy Wood, with Sunny Singh Gill acting as the fourth official.

What the Managers have said

Tony Mowbray will be hoping his side can secure back to back home wins in the League and make it three unbeaten this weekend.

Mowbray said: "Reading had a fantastic start to the season and maybe we put a pin in their bubble with a positive performance and good result down there.

"They had started the season extremely well and were top of the table after seven or eight games i think.

"Every team carries a threat and Reading undoubtedly carry a threat. Paul Ince is by nature a winner and we have to be mindful that his teams are going to come and give us a tough test.

"We have to be at our best, move the ball around as quick as we can and penetrate, be on their backline, and see how we get on".

Paul Ince feels his side are better prepared for this weekends game against Sunderland as he looks to plot a win at Wearside this weekend.

Ince said: "We lost to Sunderland last time for two reasons and one was my fault.

"We played five in midfield but we weren't going anywhere so I went to a four and that's when we conceded.

"I take full responsibility for that - that was my cock up.

"Last time, I think it was a game that if we had won, we would have gone top of the table and you could sense the nervousness in the players and we didn't really perform.

"It's going to be a tough game for us in-front of 38 to 40 thousand fans and with that crowd behind them, it is going to be tough.

"Revenge is never on my mind, it's not a word I like to use, but we have to perform a lot better than we did last time at home".

Predicted Sunderland line-up vs Reading

Sunderland have a striker available, which is starting to feel like a bit of luxury these days. Joe Gelhardt will surely return up front in what may be the only change to the line-up that faced Fulham in midweek.

Sunderland predicted starting XI vs Reading (4-2-3-1): Patterson; Hume, Ballard, Batth, Alese; Neil, Michut; Roberts, Amad, Clarke; Gelhardt