Sunderland under-23s can book their place in the knockout stages of Premier League Cup this evening if they defeat Peterborough United.
Currently top of group A, the Black Cats are in pole position to advance to the next round, with a game to spare, if they can replicate their away win over the Posh on home turf tonight, kick-off 7pm at Eppleton Colliery Welfare.
Having lost just one of their previous four matches in the competition, Dickman’s side have scored 11 times, more than any other team in their group.
Peterborough, meanwhile, still have hopes of qualification to the knockout stages but have to defeat Sunderland to have any hope.
Bottom of group A, the Posh have collected just three points from a possible 12 and know should they fail to win this evening then they will exit the cup competition.
Entry to tonight’s match is £3 for adults and £1 for over 65s and under-16s.
The game will also be streamed live on our official Facebook page.
ELLIOTT DICKMAN PRE-MATCH COMMENTS
“I think Benji (Kimpioka) has shown he is in and around the first-team squad and he obviously has been in some of the match-day squads, he’s trained a lot with the first team so he’s not far away from it. Benji is still young, he’s still got a lot to learn a lot to develop. I thought Sunday he did smashing up there by himself, leading the line and he’s making improvements all the time. As long as he continues to do that that’s all we can ask for really. As long as the lads keep performing as they are doing they’re there waiting for the manager if he needs them. The two lads have done great, obviously Benji has been around the first team in previous games and as I say that will be the first-team staff’s decision and the manager’s decision whether he wants to use them or doesn’t want to use them. If not they still play with us and keep on going.”
