Preston North End ace Brad Potts would love to kill off Sunderland’s playoff hopes this afternoon given his love for Newcastle United.
The final day of the Championship season is here and Ryan Lowe’s first full season as PNE boss will come to an end in a few hours.
On the face of it, there just isn’t much for PNE to play for; North End are mathematically ruled out of play-off contention.
Yet for a couple of players in the PNE squad, today’s game does have some importance.
Why Chelsea FINALLY Turned A Corner.
Sunderland can still secure a play-off place with a win today, though they are relying on results from elsewhere.
PNE can ruin their hopes with a result today and that’s just what Freddie Woodman and Brad Potts probably want.
Woodman spent nine years on the books at Newcastle United before joining PNE last summer.
Woodman may still feel a connection to Newcastle ahead of today’s game against their bitter rivals, but perhaps not quite as strong as Potts.
The North End wing-back was born in Hexham, almost between Carlisle and Newcastle.
Potts started his career with Carlisle but grew up supporting Newcastle and he has now admitted that he would love to beat Sunderland today and end their top-six dreams.
Speaking to the Lancashire Evening Post, Potts admitted that he is Newcastle-mad and a few friends back home are cheering on North End today.
Potts did note that he just wants to end the season well from a PNE perspective, but if they can damage Sunderland, then Potts and his friends would be pretty happy.
“I think it’s quite well known that I’m a Newcastle fan, I obviously want to win the game for Preston but I have a lot of friends and family at home who are massive Preston fans on the weekend as well,” said Potts. “It’s a big one for me and hopefully we can get a result and finish the season on a high like we did last year.”
“Hopefully we can put a halt on them getting in the play-offs with a result on Monday but it’s not about me, or about me stopping them getting in the play-offs. It’s about finishing the season well and getting a good result and a positive vibe going into the summer,” he added.
Sunderland sit seventh in the Championship table, two points behind sixth-placed Millwall and three behind Coventry City in fifth.
Sunderland therefore have to win and hope for favours from elsewhere with Millwall hosting Blackburn Rovers and Coventry travelling to Middlesbrough.
This could be a dramatic final day in the play-off race and whilst PNE won’t be in it, Potts will hope to have a big say.