The rearranged match against Preston North End, due to be played next Tuesday – 9th March – has been moved due to Sunderland’s continuing involvement in the FA Cup.
The match was originally due to be played on Saturday 31st January, but was postponed because the pitch was waterlogged, and the match rescheduled to Tuesday 8th March.
However with the Lads now due to face Sheffield United in our FA Cup quarter final fixture on Sunday 7th, the club applied to the Football League for the match to be put back by a day, and the League has agreed.
The kickoff time remains 8pm.
McCarthy explained the club’s request, saying “The cup game against Sheffield United is a Sunday night and with a late kick-off this gives us only one clear day between games – the players simply will not recover sufficiently by Tuesday night.
“My focus has to be promotion and doing what ever is necessary to try and achieve this and whilst I appreciate that this will inconvenience some supporters, I wouldn’t do this for football reasons and at short notice, unless I felt it is was vitally important and could make a real difference to our promotion chances.
“Whilst of course there are no guarantees we will win the game, having spoken to the players and staff we feel that everything must be done within our power to try to give us the best possible chance.
“I know some people may be upset and I do have every sympathy with them, however I hope that on this one occasion they will look at the bigger picture and what we are all trying to achieve.”
Preston, however, are less pleased with the fixture change at such short notice. PNE chairman Derek Shaw said, “I can understand Sunderland’s predicament, but this is now the second time that our supporters will be disappointed.
“We had eleven coaches going and people will have booked time off work – so it is very, very disappointing for the fans but the League have agreed to Sunderland’s request because they have their cup game 48 hours before.
“It is completely out of Preston North End’s hands.”
