Sunderland welcome Hull City to Stadium of Light for final pre-season fixture

Sunderland face the newly-promoted Championship side Hull City on Friday evening in their final pre-season game before the 2021/22 season.

Hull are a familiar opponent for Sunderland having met on three occasions last season. A 0-0 draw in the Carabao Cup, won by the Tigers on penalties, was followed by a 1-1 draw on Wearside in January, and then a 2-2 draw at the KCOM Stadium in April.

The game will be Sunderland’s first match at the Stadium of Light since the play-off clash with Lincoln City in May, and despite only making three signings so far, the departures mean that there is a different look to the side heading in to this campaign.

Lee Johnson is likely to make further additions to his side before the season kicks off, but he may have to be patient and wait until the latter stages of the transfer window to get the players he wants to sign.

The line up against Hull is expected to be closer to the line up that will be chosen to face Wigan Athletic in just over a week, rather than the youthful side fielded in Tuesday night’s 0-0 draw at Tranmere Rovers, however, it may still be short in places if Johnson cannot get his signings in time.

The Black Cats have had a mixed pre-season up to this point, drawing at Spennymoor Town, York City and Tranmere, but winning at Harrogate Town and Heart of Midlothian. They head into the Hull game unbeaten, but having not really set the world alight.

Grant McCann’s side meanwhile have had a quiet pre-season schedule, not playing before last weekend. The Tigers split their squad for friendlies with Mansfield Town and Scunthorpe United, both of League Two.

The Stags won 2-1 at the newly-named MKM Stadium in the earlier kick-off before Hull beat the Iron 1-0 at the Sands Venue Stadium.

McCann will be splitting his side again this time out with the Tigers also facing Manchester United under-23’s this weekend.

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