Sunderland finally ended their dreadful 17-match losing sequence with an impressive 2-0 victory against a toothless Preston side at Deepdale.
The visitors made a dream start when Sean Thornton fired them ahead after only three minutes.
Marcus Stewart created the goal when he beat Preston defender Michael Jackson before unleashing a powerful drive which keeper Jonathan Gould could only parry into the path of Thornton who side-footed home from close range.
Mick McCarthy's side remained on top and should have been two up after 11 minutes when Matt Piper spurned a golden opportunity to score.
Stewart put the former Leicester City winger through on goal and, after taking the ball round home keeper Gould, struck his effort against the post from an acute angle.
Sunderland lost youngster Ben Clark with a broken nose midway through the half, moments before Gould prevented Stewart adding a second for the visitors with a fine close-range save.
However, Stewart did make it 2-0 five minutes before the interval when he got on the end of a Kevin Kyle knockdown before shooting past Gould from six yards out.
Preston started the second half positively but, apart from Ricardo Fuller missing with a free header inside the area, they rarely threatened the visitors goal.
Fuller was denied by a fingertip save from Black Cats keeper Mart Poom in the 75th minute when his vicious 25-yard drive looked destined for the top corner of the net as the hosts stepped up their efforts to get back into the game.
Poom was on hand to deny Dickson Etuhu's close-range effort five minutes from time as Sunderland held on to secure an impressive win.