Preston North End were beaten 2-0 away to Sunderland on the opening day of 2024.
Goals from Alex Pritchard and Nazariy Rusyn sent PNE into the break with a two-goal deficit to try and overcome.
North End looked for a way back into the game, sending on all three strikers named on the bench, however the breakthrough didn’t arrive and Sunderland took the points.
There were three changes made from the defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, with Ched Evans, Jordan Storey and Mads Frøkjær coming in to start.
It was a lively opening to the game with chances at either end, firstly through Jack Clarke who bent an effort just past Freddie Woodman’s post, before Anthony Patterson had to come up with a big save at full stretch to deny Ben Whiteman a brilliant fifth-minute opener.
PNE were looking lively but fell behind ten minutes in when Pritchard was allowed room in midfield to shape up for a 25-yard strike which he fired into the bottom corner.
Woodman soon had to deny both Clarke and Pritchard, while at the opposite end Frøkjær might have done better from a first-time effort sent over the bar from the edge of the area.
Liam Millar was still looking like a big threat on the left, despite being doubled up on by the hosts, as he continued to show his trickery and pace.
Sunderland’s wideman Clarke was also causing problems and, in the 44th minute, he hopped past Storey and cut back for Rusyn, who finished beyond Woodman to give his side a two-goal lead at the break.
PNE needed more in the second half and came out on the front foot, as Brad Potts saw a powerful strike blocked before Millar’s effort in the next attack towards the near post was tipped away by Patterson.
The ‘keeper was tested again in the 58th minute to prevent Ali McCann getting one back from 20 yards, and the midfielder was soon part of a double change which saw Milutin Osmajić and Will Keane come on, as North End looked to find a way back into the game.
Emil Riis was also sent on with 11 minutes to go but the Sunderland backline remained firm and weren’t giving North End any real sign of goal, and it was the Black Cats who took all three points.
Sunderland line-up: Patterson; Hume, O’Nien, Ballard, Alese (Pembele, 70); Ekwah, Neil; Pritchard (Seelt, 85), Bellingham (Mayenda, 85), Clarke; Rusyn (Ba, 76). Subs not used: Bishop, Burstow, Aouchiche, Triantis, Rigg.
PNE line-up: Woodman; Potts, Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Whiteman; Browne, McCann (Keane, 66), Frøkjær, Millar; Evans (Osmajić, 66). Subs not used: Cornell, Cunningham, Ledson, Woodburn, Holmes, Best.
Attendance: 42,714 (PNE fans TBC).
Referee: Mr O Langford.