The hosts qualified for the playoff on the final matchday courtesy of thrashing Preston North End 3-0, while Luton had long secured their top six spot and played out a goalless draw against Hull City in their final league-match.
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Sunderland will host Luton Town in the first leg of their EFL Championship semi-final playoff tie at Stadium of Light on Saturday. The hosts qualified for the playoff on the final matchday courtesy of thrashing Preston North End 3-0 last Monday. Luton, meanwhile, had long secured their top six spot and played out a goalless draw against Hull City in their final league-match. the visitors secured a third-place finish in the English second tier standings, having collected 80 points from 46 games, while Black Cats finished at the sixth position separated by 11 points.
🗣️ ‘We have a big opportunity.’
A word from @Patrick7Roberts ahead of tomorrow’s Play-Off semi-final first leg 🪄#SAFC | #TilTheEnd
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) May 12, 2023
Sunderland went into their final league-match knowing that they were the outsiders to secure a top six finish and needed to secure rely on other results apart from securing all three points against Preston. The Black Cats put three goals past Preston at Deepdale thanks to second-half efforts from Amad Diallo, Alex Pritchard and Jack Clarke. The result extended their unbeaten run to ten games, and it was the Rocker Men’s 18th second tier victory of the season. Sunderland and Blackburn rovers finished their league-campaign with 69 points to their name, but the Tony Mowbray’s side went through to the playoffs courtesy of a superior goal-difference. Meanwhile, Sunderland’s home-form requires work, with just eight points taken from their last eight matches at Stadium of Light.
Luton, on the other hand, are unbeaten in their last nine matches on the road, winning three games in the period. The Hatters finished 11 points adrift of second-placed Sheffield United, who secured the second automatic qualification spot. last time out, rob Edwards’s side were held to a goalless draw by Hull and the result extended Luton’s unbeaten run to 14 matches, winning eight times in the process. The hatters have recorded 21 second tier wins this season and their latest success came against fourth-placed Middlesbrough less than three weeks ago. Luton’s last win over the Black Cats came way back in 2007 in the EFL Championship, while the last four encounters between these two sides in all competitions have ended in 1-1 draws.
Sunderland probable starting lineup: Patterson, Gooch, Hume, Anderson, O’Nien, Neil, Ekwah, Roberts, Diallo, Clarke, Gelhardt
Luton Town probable starting lineup: Horvath, Lockyer, Bradley, Bell, Drameh, Berry, Nakamba, Mpanzu, Doughty, Adebayo, Morris
Sunderland
| Opponents | Score |
| Preston | 0-3 (W) |
| Watford | 2-2 (D) |
| West Brom | 1-2 (W) |
| Huddersfield | 1-1 (D) |
| Birmingham | 2-1 (W) |
Luton Town
| Opponents | Score |
| Hull | 0-0 (D) |
| Blackburn | 1-1 (D) |
| Middlesbrough | 2-1 (W) |
| Reading | 1-1 (D) |
| Rotherham | 0-2 (W) |
| Last 5 match-results | Score |
| Sunderland draw Luton | 1-1 |
| Luton draw Sunderland | 1-1 |
| Sunderland draw Luton | 1-1 |
| Luton draw Sunderland | 1-1 |
| Luton beat Sunderland | 3-0 |
The first leg of the EFL Championship playoff tie between Sunderland and Luton Town will take place at Stadium of Light on Saturday at 10:00 pm IST.
| Sunderland vs Luton Town | Key Details |
| Date | May 13 |
| Venue | Stadium Light |
| kickoff time in UK | 5:30 pm |
| Kickoff time in India | 10:00 pm |
Football fans in UK can catch the live action via Sky Ultra HD, sky Sports Main Event, Sky Go Extra, Talksport 2 Radio UK and Sky Sports Football.
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