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.