Coronavirus impact deepens for Portsmouth's promotion rivals Sunderland following Peterborough, Ipswich Town, Doncaster and Rochdale postponements

Lee Johnson’s side were scheduled to travel to the Crown Ground to take on Stanley on Tuesday, but have been forced to postpone the fixture as the Covid-19 outbreak continue to hamper them.

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That means the Black Cats have now been forced to call off four fixtures since the virus first ripped through the club’s academy.

Games have against Shrewsbury, Blackpool, Hull and now Stanley have bitten the dust.A Sunderland statement read: ‘Sunderland AFC’s upcoming game against Accrington Stanley has been suspended.

‘Scheduled to take place on Tuesday 29 December, the club has informed the EFL that it will be unable to play the fixture due to the ongoing effects of a Covid-19 outbreak at the Academy of Light.

‘Due to the scale of this outbreak and the volume of positive tests returned by players and staff, the club has taken the decision to postpone the game based solely on the health and wellbeing of all effected.

‘Lee Johnson’s side are now set to return to action in the New Year, kicking off 2021 with a trip to Northampton Town on Saturday 2 January (KO 3pm).’

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