Posh welcome Black Cats to the Weston Homes Stadium on Easter Monday.
Peterborough United entertain third placed Sunderland in Sky Bet League One action on Easter Monday (3pm) with the eagerly-awaited fixture at the Weston Homes Stadium screened live by Sky Sports.
Both teams secured late victories on Good Friday, Jonson Clarke-Harris earning a 1-0 win for Darren Ferguson’s men at Fleetwood Town while two late goals helped the Black Cats to a feisty 3-1 success over Karl Robinson’s Oxford United at the Stadium of Light.
TEAM NEWS
Midfielder Jack Taylor and attacker Siriki Dembele both came through substitute appearances fine after injuries, but defender Ronnie Edwards won’t be involved. The teenager could feature for the youth team next Saturday as he continues his rehabilitation from a muscular injury. All of the players tested negative in the latest round of Covid-19 testing conducted on Sunday.
Aidan McGeady, who turned 35 on Easter Sunday, is expected to start after a huge contribution to that win over Oxford while Charlie Wyke is the Black Cats top scorer. Sunderland have been decimated by injuries this season, particularly in the back line, but are expected to field a similar line-up to the one that beat Oxford.
FROM THE GAFFER
“Monday’s game will not define the season, it is a big game, but there is a long way to go in the season and there will be plenty of twists and turns. It is one we can look forward too, it is at home, where we have been good, and it is live on the television. It is an exciting time of the season and I will be telling the players to relish the opportunities. Both Jack and Siriki came through fine on Good Friday,” Darren Ferguson said.
FROM THE OPPOSITION
“I genuinely don’t think it’s a promotion-decider. It’s an opportunity for three points and it is the same for them. There are still so many games to play, lots of points still to play for. There is an awful lot that can and will go on between now and end of the season. Of course, if you win the game then it gives you a nudge up.
“That’s why we’ve got to keep taking our lessons from each game and we can’t have that 15-20 minute spell we had in the first half here again at Peterborough because they will capitalise on that. You’ll have seen the Peterborough pitch, it’s almost like tumbleweed in that it gets quicker when you pass the ball.
“Peterborough play that pitch really well. They’ve got good footballers who almost volley it to each other, so that will be a consideration when I select the team They have players I know well there. They’ve got threats in players like Jonson Clarke-Harris and Sammie Szmodics. I had Sammie at Bristol City. We’ll prepare as we always do, go again and prepare extremely hard to win three points for our supporters.”
IFOLLOW
Season ticket holders will be given access to watch the game as normal, but because the game is live on Sky Sports, there will be no match passes available to purchase.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
The match referee is Craig Hicks.