New Sunderland boss Michael Beale is looking to start 2024 with his first home win in charge of the Black Cats as Preston North End visit the Stadium of Light. Beale has been in post a fortnight and has had a mixed start with one win one, one defeat, and one draw in his three Championship games so far.
Beale's first game ended in a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Coventry City ten days ago, followed by a 1-0 Boxing Day win at play-off rivals Hull City and then Friday night's 1-1 draw at basement side Rotherham United which saw the Wearsiders drop out of the play-off spots to seventh place. Preston were one of the early pacesetters in the division as they opened up with a seven game unbeaten start - a run which included six victories, one of which came against the Black Cats at Deepdale in August.
But since then Ryan Lowe's side has gone off the boil with just four wins in 18 league outings which has seen them drop to 11th in the table. Preston lost 1-0 at home to next-to-bottom Sheffield Wednesday on Friday and have not won on the road since they beat rivals Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on November 1.
We'll have all the latest as it happens throughout the day, with team news, match analysis, reaction and ratings.
Key Events
Michael Beale reaction
Sunderland back in the top six, Beale's first home win, Pritchard scores a stunner, but it was Rusyn's goal that will write the headlines, according to the Black Cats head coach.
FT ratings
Some very good performances this afternoon - Pritchard, Ekwah, and Neil among the pick of the bunch.
Match report
Alex Pritchard marks his return with a goal, Rusyn breaks Sunderland's striker drought, Michael Beale claims his first home win, and the Black Cats move back into the play-off spots.
FT. Sunderland 2-0 Preston North End
And that's that.
Sunderland are back in the play-off positions as Michael Beale claims his first home win as Sunderland boss.
Pritchard's stunning strike fired them into an early lead before Rusyn's goal - his first for the club - on the stroke of half-time made sure of the points.
The second half was a non-event, but Sunderland have the points in the bag and a clean sheet to boot.
They go sixth in the table - whether they stay there depends on how Hull City fare at Sheffield Wednesday in tonight's tea-time kick-off.
⏱ And we are back under way!
Preston kick off, with Sunderland attacking the North Stand in the second half
HT ratings
Patterson 7
Hume 6
O'Nien 7
Ballard 7
Alese 7
Neil 7
Ekwah 7
Pritchard 8
Bellingham 7
Clarke 7
Rusyn 7
HT. Sunderland 2-0 Preston North End
A good first half from Sunderland, with Pritchard firing them into an early lead with a fine swerving strike.
There haven't been many chances, but right on the stroke of half-time Sunderland hit Preston on the break and doubled their lead as Clarke set up Rusyn for the second goal.
Yes, that's right, a striker has scored! This is not a drill!
44mins Sunderland 2-0 Preston North End. GGGGOOOOAAAALLLL!!!!!
Sunderland hit Preston on the break.
Patterson catches a cross and bowls the ball out to Clarke on the left, he beats McCann's attempted foul and the ref plays on, he beats Storey to get into the box and squares for Rusyn at the near post and he gets in front of Lindsay to steer the ball home from six yards out
38mins Shot!
Pritchard finds space to shoot inside the box on the left but his effort goes wide of the near post
28mins Shot!
Cross into the box from the left, a hesitant Ballard clears with his knee, it falls to Frokjaer on the edge of the box but he sends his shot narrowly over
22mins Save!
Clarke shoots from just outside the box, but Woodman makes a reasonably comfortable save
10mins Sunderland 1-0 Preston North End. GGGGGOOOOOAAAAALLLL!!!!!!!!
Sunderland make the early breakthrough!
Ekwah plays the ball through Frokjaer's legs to Pritchard midway inside the Preston half, he drives towards the box and hits a powerful shot which swerves away from Woodman and into the right side of the net
5mins Save!
Millar allowed to carry the ball into the box down the left, his shot is blocked by Hume but the loose ball comes to Whiteman and his shot is pushed away by Patterson diving to his left
2mins
Hume cuts out a loose pass, feeds the ball forward to Pritchard and he then plays in Bellingham, he tees up Clarke inside the box but his shot drifts wide of the right-hand post
Team news
Aji Alese made his first appearance of the season as one of three changes made by Michael Beale to the Sunderland side that drew at Rotherham United on Friday night.
Defender Alese had been on the teamsheet at Rotherham for the first time since aggravating a thigh injury in May but was an unused substitute.
However he came into the side at left-back today, which meant Trai Hume switched to right-back with Jenson Seelt dropping to the bench.
Alex Pritchard returned to the starting line-up for the first time since the away defeat at Bristol City earlier this month, replacing the injured Patrick Roberts.
And the third change saw striker Nazariy Rusyn replace Adil Aouchiche up front, with the Ukrainian making his first appearance since the defeat at Plymouth just over a month ago.
Preston boss Ryan Lowe also made three changes, in his case to the side that lost at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Friday, with Ched Evans, Jordan Storey, and Mads Frokjaer coming into the side.
They replaced Milutin Osmajic, Jack Whatmough, and Duane Holmes.
And here's how Preston line up
Here's the Preston side
TEAM NEWS: Your first #pnefc starting XI of 2024.
— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) January 1, 2024
Three changes from Friday as Ched Evans, Jordan Storey and Mads Frøkjær come into the side. pic.twitter.com/MQWswKvpir
Here's your Sunderland XI
Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, O'Nien, Alese, Ekwah, Neil, Pritchard, Bellingham, Clarke, Rusyn
Subs: Bishop, Pembele, Burstow, Mayenda, Ba, Aouchiche, Seelt, Triantis, Rigg
