Sunderland started 2024 with a bang as they earned an impressive win against Preston North End at the Stadium of Light yesterday. 

Michael Beale's side were in action in the early kick-off on New Year's Day and showed no signs of a hangover as they earned a 2-0 win against the free-falling Lancashire side. 

Alex Pritchard's stunner handed the hosts an early lead before Nazariy Rusyn found the back of the net for his first Sunderland goal. 

Beale threw the Ukrainian striker in from the start at the Stadium of Light, as his side looked to improve upon their disappointing 1-1 draw against Rotherham last time out.

It was the visitors who came closest in the first five minutes, as Ben Whiteman fired a shot towards the top corner, but Anthony Patterson was equal to it and palmed it away. 

Sunderland found the lead on 10 minutes thanks to a stunning strike from Pritchard. 

The experienced midfielder was found in space thanks to a clever pass from Pierre Ekwah and amid shouts from the crowd to shoot from 30 yards, he duly obliged - firing a swerving shot that flew past Freddie Woodman into the net. 

When Sunderland win, they often have Jack Clarke to thank, and the winger produced a phenomenal run to create the second. 

He beat two players in midfielder before driving at the full-back, who had no idea which way he was going to go. He took it down the line and crossed for Rusyn, who nicked in ahead of the defender to slide past Woodman just before half-time. 

Liam Millar forced Patterson into a save at his near post in a second 45 which was largely a non-event. 

The 2-0 win sees the Black Cats move up to sixth in the Championship table, with the small matter of Newcastle United up next in the FA Cup this weekend.