Sunderland and Preston North End have established a competitive rivalry in the English Championship over recent years. Their most recent encounter on March 11, 2025, ended in a 1-1 draw at Sunderland’s home ground, continuing a pattern of closely contested matches between these two traditional English clubs. This fixture has become a notable one in the Championship calendar, with both teams regularly producing entertaining contests despite their differing fortunes in the 2024-25 season..
Recent head-to-head record
The history between Sunderland and Preston North End reveals an interesting competitive balance. Since 2003, the two sides have faced each other 16 times across all competitions, with Preston holding a slight advantage. Preston North End has secured 7 victories compared to Sunderland’s 4 wins, while 5 matches have ended in draws. The goal scoring record further illustrates the competitive nature of this fixture, with Preston netting 21 goals (averaging 1.3 per game) against Sunderland’s 19 goals (averaging 1.2 per game).
This historical r ecord demonstrates that while Preston has had the upper hand overall, the margin between the teams has been relatively narrow. Their encounters have typically been tight affairs, with few high-scoring blowouts in either direction. The balanced nature of their goal averages further supports the view that these matches are generally competitive contests.
The 2024-25 season encounters
The current season has seen Sunderland and Preston North End face each other three times, with varying outcomes that reflect their overall form:
- March 11, 2025: Sunderland 1-1 Preston North End
- November 6, 2024: Preston North End 0-0 Sunderland
- August 13, 2024: Preston North End 2-0 Sunderland
The progression of results shows an interesting trend, with Preston initially dominating with a 2-0 victory early in the season, followed by a goalless draw in November, and most recently a 1-1 draw in March, This pattern suggests Sunderland has gradually improved their performance against Preston as the season has progressed, perhaps reflecting their overall stronger campaign in the Championship.
Contrasting league fortunes
The 2024-25 Championship season has s een dramatically different performances from these two clubs. Sunderland has enjoyed an impressive campaign, accumulating 69 points from 19 wins, 12 draws, and just 6 losses. This strong showing has positioned them as serious promotion contenders, potentially returning to the Premier League after several seasons in the second tier.
In contrast, Preston North End has struggled to find consistency, managing only 9 wins alongside 17 draws and 11 losses, resulting in 44 points. This significant 25-point gap between the teams highlights the divergent trajectories of their seasons. Preston’s high number of draws (17) suggests they’ve been competitive in many matches but have struggled to convert these into victories, a pattern reflected in their encounters with Sunderland this season.
Historical significance of the fixture
The Sunderland vs Preston fixture carries historical weight in English football, with both clubs having rich traditions dating back to the formative years of the professional game. Preston North End was one of the founding members of the Football League in 1888 and achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the first “Invincibles” by winning the inaugural league season without losing a match.
Sunderland joined the league shortly after and has its own illustrious history, including six top-flight league titles, though most of these came in the pre-war era. Both clubs have experienced significant ups and downs throughout their histories, spending time in various divisions of English football. Their current Championship status represents different phases for each club – for Sunderland, it’s part of a rebuilding process aimed at returning to the Premier League, while Preston continues its long stint in the second tier, having last played in the top division in 1961.
The ongoing rivalry between these two historic clubs adds another chapter to their rich footballing narratives, with their most recent 1-1 draw in March 2025 suggesting that regardless of league position, Sunderland vs Preston remains a closely contested and unpredictable fixture in the Championship calendar.