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 style after 10 minutes with a swerving effort from 30 yards that left North Finish goalkeeper Freddie Woodman with no likelihood – 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 supply, 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 wished a optimistic begin to the 12 months following dips in type and Beale and Ryan Lowe made three modifications to their beginning line-ups.
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Alex Pritchard opened the New 12 months for Sunderland with a sensational aim as he arrowed a 25-yard shot previous Preston keeper Freddie Woodman
Sunderland re-introduced striker Rusyn to the facet for the primary time in additional than a month whereas Pritchard changed the injured Patrick Roberts.
Lowe, whose crew misplaced at house to Sheffield Wednesday on Friday, introduced in Ched Evans, Jordan Storey and Mads Frokjaer-Jensen in quest of 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 extensive of the upright following an honest transfer.
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Nasariy Rusyn poached his first aim for The Black Cats after a mazy Jack Clarke run and gave the house facet a 2-0 lead on the interval
Midfielder Pierre Ekwah had additionally fired extensive from simply inside the realm when Pritchard discovered the web.
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 web 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 fireplace 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 go into the trail of Rusyn to use the stunning end low and past Woodman. His motion was excellent and much-needed for a crew 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 the rest themselves.
The managers
Sunderland’s Michael Beale:
To comply with…
Preston’s Ryan Lowe:
To comply with…