The U’s are on their travels for the final time season as they take on the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light…
Despite falling to defeat on Tuesday night at the Abbey, the U’s will head to the Northeast in fine fettle having previously seen off AFC Wimbledon, Ipswich Town and most recently league leaders Wigan Athletic on their travels.
How to watch
Tickets for Saturday’s Stadium of Light clash are now off sale, with just under a 1,000 U’s expected to make the journey from Cambridgeshire for the 3pm kick-off.
Domestic fans who are unable to make the game will be able to listen to live match commentary via iFollow, as well as being able to follow live match updates on the day through United’s social media channels.
Overseas fans can stream the game live with an iFollow Match Pass. Match Passes cost £10 and are available to purchase by clicking here.
Opposition watch
The Black Cats will be aiming to move back into play-off contention with a win against the U’s on Saturday, with Alex Neil’s side currently sitting outside the top six only due to Wycombe superior goal difference.
Despite the former Norwich boss going three games without a win in February after being announced as Lee Johnson’s successor, the Scotsman has since changed the fortunes at the Stadium of Light, with the Black Cats currently enjoying a run of ten games without defeat, their joint longest unbeaten run of the season.
Having navigated their way through a tricky home clash with Shrewsbury Town on Good Friday, in which took a Nathan Broadhead injury time winner to seal the three points, Neil’s men faced an equally tough task the following Monday, as they were held to a goalless draw in Devon, as themselves and their play-off chasing counterparts Plymouth Argyle shared the spoils.
Form
Sunderland form: DWWWD
Cambridge United form: WLWWL
How the U’s go into the fixture
Defeat on Tuesday night won’t have dampened the ever-high spirits within the United camp, with the U’s preparing to face the Black Cats on Tuesday night having enjoyed a run of three wins in their previous three outings away from the Abbey Stadium.
Harvey Knibbs and Sam Smith secured another memorable win for United as Mark Bonner’s men overcame title challenges Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium last weekend, with the U’s in turn picking up their 15th League One win of the campaign.
Head-to-Head
Sunderland wins: 6
Cambridge United wins: 3
Draws: 4
Down Memory Lane
The Black Cats will host Mark Bonner’s men this weekend having not tasted defeat against the U’s in three decades.
November’s Abbey lash saw Sunderland leave with all three points as an own goal and Nathan Broadhead’s strike condemned the U’s to a 2-1 defeat.
Saturday’s visitors Sunderland boast a historical advantage over the U’s, having won six of the 13 clashes between both sides, three better than United’s three wins. Prior to November’s clash, the last league meeting saw the sides play out an entertaining 3-3 draw in front of over 16,000 spectators at Roker Park in the old First Division in 1993.
Officials
Referee: Peter Wright
Assistant Referee: Bradley Hall
Assistant Referee: Joe Simpson
Fourth Official: Richard Wigglesworth