S’land 2 – 0 Preston – KhabarSahiHai

Sunderland strengthened their Championship promotion hopes by beginning 2024 with a complete 2-0 win over Preston on the Stadium of Gentle.

Alex Pritchard gave Michael Beale’s males the lead in beautiful trend after 10 minutes with a swerving effort from 30 yards that left North Finish goalkeeper Freddie Woodman with no probability – his first aim since Might.

Simply earlier than the break, Nazariy Rusyn doubled the lead after connecting with Jack Clarke’s sq. ball after the Black Cats’ star man had rampaged down the left-hand flank.

Sunderland climb as much as sixth forward of the rest of the New 12 months’s Day motion after taking seven factors from the final 9 on provide, whereas Preston have now misplaced 4 of their final 5 league video games and keep down in eleventh.

How Sunderland began 2024 as they imply to go

Each groups needed a constructive begin to the yr following dips in type and Beale and Ryan Lowe made three modifications to their beginning line-ups.

Sunderland re-introduced striker Rusyn to the aspect for the primary time in additional than a month whereas Pritchard changed the injured Patrick Roberts.

Lowe, whose workforce misplaced at residence to Sheffield Wednesday on Friday, introduced in Ched Evans, Jordan Storey and Mads Frokjaer-Jensen in the hunt for a change in fortune.

Except for Ben Whiteman’s effort that pressured a save out of Anthony Patterson six minutes in, Preston’s defence was busiest early on.

The hazard indicators have been already there after simply 90 seconds when Clarke curled an effort simply broad of the upright following a good transfer.

Midfielder Pierre Ekwah had additionally fired broad from simply inside the world when Pritchard discovered the online.

The 30-year-old was afforded an excessive amount of house deep within the Preston half. There was nonetheless loads of work to do and he struck right-footed with energy previous Freddie Woodman from 25 yards.

It was the primary time Pritchard had discovered the online since scoring at Preston on the ultimate weekend of final season in Might.

Clarke pressured Woodman right into a save to his left after one other of his probing runs whereas Preston created a few half probabilities for Frokjaer-Jensen to fireside over.

However, with only a minute remaining of the opening half, Sunderland obtained the second aim.

Clarke drove at his marker earlier than rolling a cross into the trail of Rusyn to use the stunning end low and past Woodman. His motion was good and much-needed for a workforce in determined want of some strike energy.

After the restart, Preston pressured Patterson into a few saves from Liam Miller and Frokjaer-Jensen however Sunderland managed the sport and tempo with out creating anything themselves.

The managers

Sunderland’s Michael Beale:

To comply with…

Preston’s Ryan Lowe:

To comply with…