Sunderland 0 Preston North End 1 DAVID NUGENT'S value increased as the Preston North End striker grabbed the winning goal to end Sunderland's impressive run at the Stadium of Light.

The 20-year-old, a target of Middlesbrough among others in next month's transfer window, arrived on cue eight minutes before half-time to head in the only goal from close range.

It was hardly the most outstanding of his eight Championship goals this season yet it proved sufficient to dent the Black Cats' play-off hopes.

Victory for Sunderland could have sent them up to sixth ahead of the trip to Leicester on New Year's Day.

Now the best manager Roy Keane can hope for after the trip to the Walkers Stadium is a place in the top half of the league table.

Preston, meanwhile, continue to fight to retain a place in the top two, despite a recent blip in form.

SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Ward; Whitehead, Varga, Caldwell (Nyatanga 16), Nosworthy; Murphy, L Miller, Leadbitter, Wallace (Brown 67); Yorke (S Elliott 46), Connolly. Subs (not used): Hysen, Fulop.

PRESTON (4-4-2): Nash; Alexander, Chilvers, St Ledger, Hill; Pugh, Davidson, T Miller, Sedgewick; Nugent (Neal 87), Ormerod (Anyinsah 81). Subs (not used): Lonergan, Wilson, McGrail.