Sunderland opened up down the right, as Preston's Ben Whiteman puts Brad Potts away.

His low cross is turned behind by Pierre Ekwah after a little mix-up with goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.

Sunderland deal with the corner and subsequent ball in.

It's rapid fire right now.

This game has really kickstarted.

Lively.

Lots of wide play.

Sunderland's turn to attack as Jack Clarke comes down the left and rolls it to the line for Jobe Bellingham to turn it across.

His clipped ball falls to Pierre Ekwah, but the midfielder's shot skims off the edge of his boot and veers wide.

Superb save from Anthony Patterson.

Preston attack down the left as Andrew Hughes eats up the ground before slipping to Liam Millar.

Miller wriggles into the box, his shot blocked by Trai Hume, but Ben Whiteman hits the loose ball first time and a searing effort is beaten away by Sunderland keeper Patterson.

Anthony Patterson clears under pressure from Mads Frokjaer.

Preston get it straight back.

Brad Potts slings in a cross for the visitors but it's an easy claim for goalkeeper Patterson.

Gary Bennett
Ex-Sunderland defender on BBC Radio Newcastle

You are just thinking he is going to hit the target. He should have done better.

Sunderland come close.

Jack Clarke bends one from just inside the box, left side, his usual territory.

It zooms just wide.

Preston gave it away cheaply and the hosts almost pounced.

Sloppy start from Sunderland as the ball is fizzed out to Trai Hume on the right but it goes to touch.

Preston look to build from the back, but Nazariy Rusyn is quick to close down.

Good energy shown by the Ukrainian.

Oliver Langford puts his whistle to his lips and we're underway at a chilly but bright Stadium of Light.

Langford, by the way, has dished out five red cards in 17 games this season and 60 yellows. He doesn't muck about.

Welcome to 2024.

Both sides form a huddle on the centre circle and a moment's silence for those lost in 2023 takes place.

Perfect silence. Poignantly done.

The strains of Prokofiev's Dance of the Knights make way for Republica's Ready to Go and the players head out of the tunnel at the Stadium of Light.

Big roar.

It's on.

With the transfer window back open Sunderland fans will no doubt be willing their owners to dip in to the coffers and provide some funds for a striker, given both Tony Mowbray and Michael Beale have both come to terms with the lack of firepower in their time in charge this term.

Livewire winger Jack Clarke and the dynamic versatile presence of Jobe Bellingham have helped pick up some of the striker slack with crucial goals, but the need for a genuine hitman seems an obvious missing piece of the jigsaw.

Ukrainian forward Nazariy Rusyn has been included today, will he play wide or lead the line?

Preston have recently been boosted by the return of Denmark's Emil Riis after he made his first appearance in almost a year as a sub in the Sheffield Wednesday loss.

The 25-year-old endured a severe anterior cruciate ligament injury last January, and had been out ever since.

The last week or so has been a mixed bag of emotions for Preston North End fans, players and particularly the gaffer Ryan Lowe.

Having beaten Leeds thrillingly with another fine effort from Canadian forward Liam Millar on Boxing Day, the Lilywhites backed that up with defeat by Sheffield Wednesday at their Deepdale home.

“You take a step forward and then two steps back, that’s what we’ve done," Lowe said post-match.

“We felt, without being disrespectful to Sheffield Wednesday, that it was a good opportunity for us to get another three points tonight."

Today they'll have to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, wondering which team will turn up under Michael Beale.

Image source, Rex Features

There's a rather big game looming for Sunderland in the next six days, as their long separation from local rivals Newcastle United comes to an end with Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie.

However, goalkeeper Anthony Patterson knows that the Wearsiders can ill-afford to start dreaming of derby day matters when precious Championship points are up for grabs against Preston North End this lunchtime.

"Obviously we need to beat Preston on Monday first," Patterson told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"Then we can switch our focus. If you switch off from the game or focus on something else you get stung, which is not what we want."

Since new boss Michael Beale's 3-0 horror-show opener against Coventry, Sunderland have taken four points from six with a win and a draw over the Christmas games.

Image source, Getty Images

Long-term absentee Aji Alese, Alex Pritchard and Nazariy Rusyn come in for Sunderland, with Jenson Seelt and Adil Aouchiche dropping to the bench while Patrick Roberts misses out.

Jordan Storey, Mads Frokjaer and Ched Evans are in Preston's starting XI, as Ryan Lowe makes a few tweaks.

Jack Whatmough, Duane Holmes and Milutin Osmajic make way, with the latter two named on the bench.

Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, O'Nien, Alese, Ekwah, Neil, Pritchard, Bellingham, Clarke, Rusyn

Subs: Pembele, Burstow, Mayenda, Ba, Aouchiche, Seelt, Triantis, Bishop, RIgg

Preston NE: Woodman, Potts, Storey, Lindsay, Hughes, Whiteman, Frokjaer, Browne, McCann, Millar, Evans

Subs: Cunningham, Keane, Ledson, Riis, Woodburn, Cornell, Holmes, Osmajic, Best

All kick-offs 15:00 GMT.

• Accrington Stanley v Salford City
• Colchester United v Gillingham
• Crawley Town v Swindon Town
• Crewe Alexandra v Bradford City
• Doncaster Rovers v MK Dons
• Forest Green Rovers v AFC Wimbledon
• Grimsby Town v Walsall
• Morecambe v Harrogate Town
• Stockport County v Mansfield Town
• Sutton United v Newport County
• Tranmere Rovers v Notts County
• Wrexham v Barrow

All kick-offs 15:00 GMT.

• Barnsley v Wigan Athletic
• Blackpool v Lincoln City
• Bolton Wanderers v Burton Albion
• Cambridge United v Leyton Orient
• Carlisle United v Port Vale
• Charlton Athletic v Oxford United
• Derby County v Peterborough United
• Northampton Town v Cheltenham Town
• Portsmouth v Stevenage
• Reading v Exeter City
• Shrewsbury Town v Fleetwood Town
• Wycombe Wanderers v Bristol Rovers

Here's what's on offer this afternoon from the Championship.

All kick-offs 15:00 GMT unless specified.

• Sunderland v Preston North End - 12:30
• Blackburn Rovers v Rotherham United
• Bristol City v Millwall
• Leeds United v Birmingham City
• Leicester City v Huddersfield Town
• Middlesbrough v Coventry City
• Norwich City v Southampton
• Plymouth Argyle v Watford
• Queens Park Rangers v Cardiff City
• Stoke City v Ipswich Town
• Swansea City v West Bromwich Albion
• Sheffield Wednesday v Hull City - 17:15

Happy new year. How's the head?

It's not quite the opening day of the season, where dreams and hopes for the new campaign are alive with gusto.

But it's a fresh start in the middle of the campaign for us all to think what we could do better, what we can aspire to - and that of course goes for our football clubs. Keep on rolling, hit the reset button, turn things around, etc, etc.

The transfer window is back open again too, bringing with it the anticipation of new arrivals and possibly seeing the back of departees.

So, what better way to grasp the new dawn of 2024 by celebrating with a stack of EFL action across the 72 clubs?

Sunderland against Preston from the Championship is up first. Let's get started.

Image source, Rex Features