Aji Alese, back in for his first game of the season after a difficult thigh injury, does well to read Mads Frokjaer's ball to the right.

Sunderland's left-back might have given away a free-kick for a swinging arm on Ched Evans before that, but it wasn't picked up.

Preston North End think they've cleared the free-kick but Jobe Bellingham pinches it off Brad Potts.

It comes to nothing but the endeavour is appreciated by Sunderland supporters.

Ryan Lowe's North End are still well in the game but need to create more.

Sunderland get Nazariy Rusyn away and he gallops beyond Andrew Hughes, before a no-arms tackle from Liam Lindsay - a proper bodycheck - results in a booking.

Sunderland free-kick from 25 yards.

Alex Pritchard is pulling Preston all over the place.

He picks up such little pockets that the visitors aren't covering, and gets time to turn and run at the defence.

Checks himself a yard and a shooting gap but his effort zips wide.

Image source, PA Media

Liam Millar back defending blocks Trai Hume's cross after he and Alex Pritchard worked an overlap for Sunderland.

He then seeks to launch a counter, but Mads Frokjaer's pass lacks the quality needed and Sunderland smother.

Sunderland definitely did their homework on Liam Millar.

The shock of blonde hair on Preston's left has been double-marked anytime he's had the ball in good areas.

Nazariy Rusyn and Pierre Ekwah converge on him and eventually he's stifled.

Mads Frokjaer sends in a curling inswinger of a cross which causes Sunderland a few headaches, but Preston can't register a chance from it.

More encouraging moments for Ryan Lowe though in the last 10.

Image source, Getty Images

Ball a bit like a hot potato as both teams chuck away possession.

Preston clump it forward for Ched Evans, it goes through to Anthony Patterson who takes it over the line when trying to smother.

Corner.

Preston pump it in through Ben Whiteman but Dan Ballard powers it away like a cannon.

A touch of 1984 rather than 2024 in midfield as Ched Evans is clattered by Sunderland's Dan Ballard and then Luke O'Nien thunders into Preston's Alan Browne and leaves him in a heap.

Preston ping the ball about the edge of the Sunderland box. Bit of pressure and some chances.

Pierre Ekwah blocks from Liam Millar at point-blank range, the ball is recycled and after Dan Ballard can only half-clear, Mads Frokjaer again smashes a shot over the top.

Liam Millar has been Preston's dangerman in recent weeks but he's been rather starved of possession out on the left.

The likes of Ali McCann, Ben Whiteman and Alan Browne haven't had chance to scheme in midfield.

Here goes Millar, wrong-foots Trai Hume, gets to the box, closed down by Luke O'Nien and the recovering Hume blocks his cross for a corner.

Image source, Rex Features

Preston get a chance but Mads Frokjaer's effort rises viciously over the top.

It came from a swinging Brad Potts cross from the right which Alan Browne left and Luke O'Nien stubbed invitingly to the Dane.

More like it though from the visitors.

Ryan Lowe is stalking his technical area and barking out instructions to his Preston North End players.

The game has really shifted on that effort from Alex Pritchard.

His mood might well have dipped further, as Pritchard hits another skiddy drive which Freddie Woodman gathers at the second attempt.

He'll keep having a dig.

Gary Bennett
Ex-Sunderland defender on BBC Radio Newcastle

The form he is in, I wouldn't have been surprised if that went in - he has a lot of confidence.

Jack Clarke stretches the legs down the left after Brad Potts loses the ball for Preston and Sunderland get a chance to yomp on.

Clarke hits a low effort which is taken in the midriff by North End goalkeeper Freddie Woodman. Ex-Newcastle by the way...

Liam Lindsay swats a ball forward for Liam Millar as Preston look to push, but the Canada international is muscled out of it.

Sunderland attack in reply.

Ball whizzes between Alex Pritchard, Nazariy Rusyn and Pierre Ekwah.

Pritchard sends in a cross. Deflected behind. Corner.

Sunderland have such a fluid forward line, what they lack in not having a focal point gives them versatility.

Jobe Bellingham, Alex Pritchard and company just pop up everywhere and it makes them harder to pin down.

Plenty of push out wide too, as Trai Hume just showed by galloping down the right and swinging in a cross which Liam Lindsay boomed away.

Preston need to clear their heads and reset because before that rousing strike from Alex Pritchard, they were more than making headway.

Pierre Ekwah and Dan Neil have just started to wrest some control in midfield for Sunderland, and winning that territory back is key for North End.

Strong coat and scarf game from Michael Beale on the Sunderland bench.

That goal will certainly have warmed him up.

It's been a cracking first 13 minutes.

Image source, PA Media

Gary Bennett
Ex-Sunderland defender on BBC Radio Newcastle

What a goal, what a strike - we all know that he has that in his locker.

It was all down to Alex Pritchard and what he could do. We don't see enough of that. We keep saying 'pull the trigger'.

Image source, PA Media