Accrington boss ready for 'difficult' Sunderland test | OneFootball

Sunderland take on Accrington Stanley away on Tuesday in the first round of the EFL Cup, hoping to turn their fortunes around after beginning the season with a pair of 1-1 draws.

Last season, the two sides battled to a 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light before the Black Cats turned in one of their best performances of the season in a 3-0 win away at the Crown Ground.

After starting the season off with a 2-0 loss against newly-promoted Lincoln City, Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman is preparing for a tough test at home.

“It’s going to be difficult, we know that,” admitted the Accrington boss.

“We had a couple of good games against them last year and what we’ve got to try and do now is put the disappointment of the Lincoln game behind us and try and kick on.

“As I said it’s going to be a tough game, but we’ve got players who are realising the way we play now.

“We have to learn from it, and hopefully the players will learn from it, I know the players are dying to get back out onto the pitch and try and right a few wrongs from that game.”

Accrington Stanley finished 14th in League One last season.

The draw for the second round of the EFL Cup will take place on Tuesday after the conclusion of the Salford City – Leeds United match, which could see Sunderland take on rivals Newcastle for the first time since 2016.