Sunderland begin their Carabao Cup journey for 2022-23 this Wednesday night, taking on Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough (KO 8pm).
The Lads revisit South Yorkshire less than three months after last season’s victorious Play-Off semi-final, and play in the Carabao Cup for the first time since an impressive run to the quarter-finals against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Team news
Head Coach Alex Neil is expected to rotate several of his team from Saturday’s winning side at Bristol City in Sky Bet Championship action.
Bailey Wright, Luke O’Nien and Jack Diamond could all be involved, alongside Patrick Roberts, who netted the crucial goal in the Lads’ last visit to the blue side of Sheffield. Alex Bass could be in contention for a debut, with players such as Carl Winchester, Aji Alese and Jay Matete also waiting in the wings.
Opposition
Sheffield Wednesday are out for nothing less than promotion from League One this term, at the second time of asking. Darren Moore’s men sit fourth in the division at this early stage, having taken four points from their opening two games – following up a 3-3 draw against Portsmouth with a 1-0 success at MK Dons.
Sunderland are unbeaten in their last three meetings with the Owls and have won 50 historic meetings, with Wednesday winning 48 and 29 draws.
Around the grounds
Tuesday (7:45pm unless stated)
Cambridge 1-0 Millwall (August 2)
Shrewsbury vs Carlisle
Blackpool vs Barrow
Accrington vs Tranmere
AFC Wimbledon vs Gillingham
Northampton vs Wycombe
Oxford vs Swansea
Rochdale vs Burton
Cheltenham vs Exeter
Charlton vs QPR
Morecambe vs Stoke
Mansfield vs Derby
Bradford vs Hull
Crawley vs Bristol Rovers
Huddersfield vs Preston
Ipswich vs Colchester
Grimsby vs Crewe
Bolton vs Salford
Norwich vs Birmingham
Harrogate vs Stockport
Doncaster vs Lincoln
Luton vs Newport
MK Dons vs Sutton
Forest Green vs Leyton Orient
Fleetwood vs Wigan
Cardiff vs Portsmouth
Walsall vs Swindon
Reading vs Stevenage (8pm)
Wednesday (7:45pm unless stated)
Coventry vs Bristol City
Blackburn vs Hartlepool
Plymouth vs Peterborough
Port Vale vs Rotherham
Middlesbrough vs Barnsley
Thursday (8pm)
West Brom vs Sheffield United
Streaming & coverage
Wednesday evening’s contest will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football – SAFSee streaming will consequently be unavailable on the night.
Social media updates will be available via the club’s official accounts on Twitter @SunderlandAFC, and Instagram @sunderlandafcofficial.