AliousFormer Sunderland youth prospect Sam Greenwood has emphasized that his current team, Preston North End, will approach their upcoming clash against the Black Cats with an attacking mindset. The two sides are set to face off on Tuesday evening, with Preston eager to break a five-game winless streak in the Championship.
The Lilywhites will travel to the Stadium of Light still reeling from a narrow 1-0 defeat to promotion contenders Sheffield United on Saturday. Despite a determined effort, they were unable to salvage a result. Meanwhile, Sunderland secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over struggling Cardiff City, extending their unbeaten streak to two games. Another triumph in midweek would stretch that run to three.
This will be the third meeting between the teams this season. Preston previously knocked Sunderland out of the Carabao Cup in the first round with a win at Deepdale in August, but the subsequent Championship fixture in November ended in a goalless draw. Greenwood believes these past encounters, coupled with Preston’s battling display against Sheffield United, provide reason for optimism heading into Tuesday’s game.
Reflecting on the loss to Sheffield United, Greenwood admitted to some frustration but remained positive about his side’s performance. Speaking to Preston’s official website, he explained, “It was a tight match, and we knew it would be tough against a quality team with intelligent players. We created enough chances to get something out of the game, especially as it progressed. Early on, we had to dig deep, but as the match went on, we grew into it and were unlucky not to score.”
Turning his attention to the challenge posed by Sunderland, Greenwood added, “We have to go there and impose ourselves. They’re a strong side, but if you look back at our last meeting, it was a close contest, and we could have won it. That should give us confidence heading into this one.”
Greenwood, who spent a decade in Sunderland’s academy before joining Arsenal in 2018, has previously spoken about the significance of facing his former club. Last year, he shared how much the fixture means to him on a personal level. “Playing against Sunderland is special for me, but I have to treat it as just another game,” he said. “I was there from the age of six to 16, and I had incredible experiences and memories. I’m still a big supporter and watch them every week.”
During a loan spell at Middlesbrough, Greenwood even scored against Sunderland, an experience he later described as surreal. “It was a crazy moment,” he recalled. “Seeing my school friends in the crowd giving me stick, and my dad watching as well—it felt strange. That’s why I didn’t really celebrate. My whole family supports Sunderland, so it was a weird but memorable experience.”
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