Sunderland started the new year in style by celebrating a 2-0 win over Preston which included a first goal scored by one of the club’s strikers this season.
After playmaker Alex Pritchard had got the scoring under way at the Stadium of Light with his own first goal of the campaign in the 10th minute, the second arrived through Ukrainian Nazariy Rusyn just before the break.
It was the goal Wearside had waited for all season – a goal from a front man – and he was given a standing ovation when he was replaced with 12 minutes left.
Rusyn, signed from Zorya at the end of the summer window, turned in Jack Clarke’s cross in the 44th minute to put Sunderland on track for victory.
Those goals were enough to earn Michael Beale a first home win too – and second victory overall – since taking over from Tony Mowbray before Christmas to keep Sunderland firmly in the play-off picture while Preston’s slump continued.
Both teams wanted a positive start to the year following dips in form and Beale and Ryan Lowe made three changes to their starting line-ups.
Sunderland re-introduced striker Rusyn to the side for the first time in more than a month while Pritchard replaced the injured Patrick Roberts.
Lowe, whose team lost at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Friday, brought in Ched Evans, Jordan Storey and Mads Frokjaer-Jensen in search of a change in fortune.
Aside from Ben Whiteman’s effort that forced a save out of Anthony Patterson six minutes in, Preston’s defence was busiest early on.
The danger signs were already there after just 90 seconds when Clarke curled an effort just wide of the upright following a decent move.
Midfielder Pierre Ekwah had also fired wide from just inside the area when Pritchard found the net.
The 30-year-old was afforded too much space deep in the Preston half. There was still plenty of work to do and he struck right-footed with power past Freddie Woodman from 25 yards.
It was the first time Pritchard had found the net since scoring at Preston on the final weekend of last season in May.
After that Clarke forced Woodman into a save to his left after another of his probing runs while Preston created a couple of half chances for Frokjaer-Jensen to fire over.
But, with just a minute remaining of the opening half, Sunderland got the second goal.
Clarke drove at his marker before rolling a pass into the path of Rusyn to apply the lovely finish low and beyond Woodman. His movement was perfect and much-needed for a team in desperate need of some strike power.
After the restart, Preston forced Patterson into a couple of saves from Liam Miller and Frokjaer-Jensen but Sunderland controlled the game and tempo without creating anything else themselves.
Al-Nassr 1-2 Al-Qadsiah: Aubameyang winner ends hosts' unbeaten run
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the winner as Al-Qadsiah inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on Friday to end their 21-match unbeaten run.
Cristiano Ronaldo's seventh league goal of the season put Al-Nassr ahead, but Al-Qadsiah replied swiftly through Julian Quinones before Aubameyang struck the decisive blow.
The hosts drew first blood in the 32nd minute when Ronaldo slotted home after Al-Qadsiah goalkeeper Koen Casteels had spilled a routine catch from Talisca's cross.
However, Al-Nassr's joy was short-lived when Quinones brought down Turki Al Ammar's delivery five minutes later, with the Mexcio winger firing past Bento to level the scores.
Quinones also played a part in the winning goal after brilliantly turning the ball back across goal from Nahitan Nandez's search pass to tee up a simple finish for Aubameyang.
The result sees Al-Qadsiah move level on 22 points with third-placed Al-Nassr, with Al-Shabab also level with them.
Stefano Pioli's Al-Nassr are six points adrift of defending champions and leaders Al-Hilal, who also have a game in hand.
Arsenal handed another injury blow as White ruled out for 'months'
Mikel Arteta confirmed that Arsenal defender Ben White is facing "months" on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury.
White had been dealing with several issues all season and has missed five games in all competitions for the Gunners already this term.
After struggling through until the November international break, the decision was taken for him to undergo surgery in order to finally address the ongoing problems.
It serves as a bitter blow for Arteta, with only Thomas Parety (13) making more interceptions than White (11) for Arsenal in the Premier League this campaign.
Though Arteta confirmed that the surgery was successful, White is set for a lengthy spell out of the team.
"It has been different kinds of struggles. It has never been the same thing, but we had to make a decision. He has not improved over the last few weeks, unfortunately," said Arteta.
"We know that Ben is going to push every boundary, but it got to the point where we have to protect the player and we decided to do the surgery.
"He agreed with that and it is going to keep him out for a few months."
Asked for a specific time frame, Arteta added: "We have to see how he reacts post-surgery. I don't expect it to be half a year, but I cannot tell you exactly."
It offers a concern for Arteta in the full-back area, with the Spaniard also revealing on Friday that Takehiro Tomiyasu is "going to be out as well for a bit".
There was, however, some positive injury news for the Gunners ahead of welcoming Nottingham Forest to the Emirates on Saturday.
After not featuring for England during the international break, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are expected to be fit to feature against Nuno Espirito Santo's side.
Leandro Trossard will also be available for Arteta despite picking up a hamstring injury during the international break with Belgium.
Defender Riccardo Calafiori is also in contention for Saturday's game after a month out with a knee problem.
Vlahovic out of Juventus clash with Milan
Dusan Vlahovic will miss Juventus' trip to Milan in Serie A this weekend and is also a doubt for the Champions League game at Aston Villa, head coach Thiago Motta has confirmed.
Vlahovic returned from the international break with a muscle problem in his left thigh, and the manager, after he confirmed the Serbian's absence for Saturday's game at San Siro, was asked about his chances of playing on Wednesday at Villa Park.
"I don't know. He definitely won't be there tomorrow. We hope to have him back as soon as possible," Motta told a press conference on Friday.
"Injuries are part of football. Now it's Vlahovic's turn, but we'll keep playing with the same principles, attacking and defending together."
Vlahovic is the latest of Motta's injury problems at Juventus. Argentine winger Nicolas Gonzalez missed the last six league games and is still unavailable, while Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik is a long-term absentee.
Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz will also miss the game with Milan and defender Juan Cabal recently suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, the same issue which will keep fellow defender Gleison Bremer out for the rest of the season.
"I'm really disappointed for Cabal because, like Bremer, he'll be out for a long time," Motta said.
"This is another reason to push ourselves, to commit that bit more so that these absences don't weigh too heavily."
Juventus go into the game as the only unbeaten side in Serie A but find themselves sixth in the standings in what is so far a very tight title race, with just two points separating Motta's side from leaders Napoli.
"It's very balanced and this is good for both us and the public," Motta said.
"We must all try to continue like this. We have to try to get as many positive results as possible."
Milan are one place behind Juve but six points off Motta's side.
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