MICK McCARTHY had backed Marcus Stewart over David Healy in the battle of the sharp-shooters before Saturday's Coca-Cola Championship clash against Preston, but in the end it was his young guns who pulled the trigger first.

Stewart had previously found the back of net on six occasions for the Black Cats before the weekend's fixture; Healy had rattled the onion bag four times.

But despite demonstrating deadly accuracy in front of goal so far this season both gunslingers proved to be firing blanks.

But with the Indians circling the wagon trail it was fortunate the Sunderland boss could rely on the younger members of the McCarthy gang to be just as deadly.

Initially it was baby-face Stephen Elliott who demonstrated the cold-blooded calm of Doc Holliday in his pomp to rescue the three points for his manager.

Elliott's brace took his tally to five in only four starts for the club since his move from Manchester City in the summer.

Debutant and Birmingham loan ranger Darren Carter was another of 'boys in the gang with a gun in his hand' who proved to be quick on the draw, reacting first when Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan saved Stewart's spot kick just before half-time to strike a venomous left-footed shot high into Preston net.

Although the 20-year-old Dubliner took all the plaudits for his trigger-happy display, it was team-mate Julio Arca who supplied the bullets.

The 23-year-old midfielder was in inspirational form and forged a formidable partnership with George McCartney down the left. The pair's surging runs had the nerves of the Preston back four jangling all afternoon.

Yet for 26 minutes the Stadium of Light was more like a ghost town than a fight at the OK Coral with little happening on the pitch to rouse the posse on the terraces.

This all changed a minute later, however, when the Argentine picked up a pass from Stewart, ghosted past full-back Graham Alexander and fired a low shot which Lonergan could only parry into the path of Elliott, who made no mistake from close range.

Preston hit back when referee Alan Kaye gave the visitors a controversial penalty after Steven Caldwell was adjudged to have fouled Richard Cresswell. Alexander made no mistake from the spot.

The Wakefield ref evened things up, however, as the half drifted into stoppage time when Preston penalty scorer Alexander turned villain and wrestled Stewart to the ground.

Arca's vision and execution was pivotal in his side's third goal, five minutes after the break. The midfielder threaded a defence-splitting pass through to McCartney who pulled the ball back for Elliott to score his second and Sunderland's third to wrap up all three points for the Wearsiders.

McCarthy has now seen his charges rise to sixth in the Championship table after an uncertain start to the campaign thanks to three victories within a week. The 44-year-old praised his side's solid performance shortly after the game.

"It has been a good week for us and it's been very pleasing," said the dour Yorkshireman.

"I think the performances have been good. At 1-0 we were looking comfortable and then they were given a penalty and that killed us for a few minutes and some of us were getting a bit angry and upset. Then we get a penalty, which I guess they'll feel similarly that it was a bit harsh.

"It was important we got a result because with a young team if you're not winning the spirit can get dampened somewhat and it can have a real demoralising and negative effect on young players.

"When you're an experienced player you know it'll turn around and you'll eventually get a break but when you're a young fella you're not as confident about it.

"It was a solid performance and once we got the third there was never any danger of us losing."

The Sunderland boss had singled out special praise for three of his young starlets and struggled to hide his fury at the same time after Carl Robinson left the field on a stretcher; although he was later released from hospital with minor head injuries.

He said: "I don't want to speculate on what's wrong with him but Carl has gone to hospital.

"But it's certainly not nice to see any player come off and certainly not one of ours, it's upsetting. He goes up for a header and the next thing was that someone rolled him over for his own personal well-being.

"I just hope he's fine, he's been terrific for us; a good character to have around the place and a top bloke in the dressing room.

"Stephen Elliot is a good player. We knew he could score and he's scored at every level he's been at but he's never been tried and tested at this level.

"I thought Darren got better as the game went on and it was great finish. I think he'll be the first to admit he's not up to speed but his goal will certainly help."

Result: Sunderland 3 Preston North End 1.

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