Here's how Sunderland's players rated at Preston:
7 Moore: Made a fine save at full stretch to deny Riis just before the break. Another clean sheet. One of only a few players - along with Luke O'Nien and substitute Patrick Roberts - who will leave satisfied with display.
6 Hume: Got up and down the right and supported Watson on full debut. Avoided a booking again.
5 Mepham: Perhaps fortunate to avoid early red card.
7 O’Nien: Made a superb first half block inside his own box.
6 Cirkin: Grew into the game and linked up well with Mundle when he was introduced.
5 Neil: Up against it in the first half and couldn’t get a grip of the game.
5 Browne: Worked hard but sloppy in possession.
6 Rigg: A couple of classy touches but didn’t have the influence he’d have liked on his return.
5 Watson: Worked hard and supported Hume but didn’t look as comfortable on the right as he does the opposite flank.
6 Isidor: Early shot into the side netting. Improved after the break and asked questions on a couple of occasions with direct running.
5 Connolly: Difficult full debut for the striker. Largely had to feed on scraps for the most part. Went close with one first half effort.
Substitutes:
7 Roberts (for Watson, 62): Injected urgency and creativity on the right.
6 Mundle (for Connolly, 62): Bright but touch heavy on more than one occasion.
Mayenda (for Isidor, 80): N/A
Subs not used: Nna Noukeu, Ballard, Rusyn, Aleksic, Hjelde, Jones
PNE: Woodman 6; Storey 6, Lindsay 6 (Whatmough, 73), Hughes 6, Potts 6, Whiteman 6 (c), McCann 6 (Thordarson, 82), Kesler-Hayden 6, Frokjaer 6, Greenwood 7 (Holmes, 76), Riis 6
Subs: Cornell, Best, Ledson, Okkels, Bowler, Stewart.
Man of the Match: Moore. Not much competition but another clean sheet and crucial save late in first half.
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