Sunderland summer transfer target Jordan Hugill reveals secret behind stunning goal for Preston

The striker - a summer transfer target of Simon Grayson - scored Preston's second goal to turn the game on its head, his thumping volley flying past Jason Steele.

Sunderland deservedly led at half-time thanks to George Honeyman's third goal of the season but Preston North End quickly hit back after the break.

In the 55th minute Josh Harrop's whipped free-kick flew into the net before Hugill's volley from the edge of the area two minutes later made it 2-1.

Sunderland then equalised two minutes later, Aiden McGeady sweeping home from 20 yards to silence the home fans.

Grayson joked post-match that Hugill wouldn't hit a sweeter goal again but the striker revealed he had been honing his technique on the training ground.

"We do a bit on left footed volleys on the training ground and it's kind of paying off," said former Hartlepool United loanee Hugill.

"It's a good thing for me as I've not scored a goal for a few games now so it's nice to get another one no matter how it goes in.

"Whether it's top corner or whether it dribbles in, I don't mind and it's another one to add to my tally.

"It's pleasing to see the reaction and that's not the first time it's happened and that just shows the characters we've got in the changing room at the moment.

"We've got a lot of people willing to stick their chests out and that's what we did and we came out fighting, got the two goals, obviously it's unfortunate with their second goal but it's a point at the end of the day and we'll take the unbeaten run and work on a few things and keep the run going."

Preston dropped to sixth while Sunderland remain second bottom in the Championship after 11 games.

North End boss Alex Neil admitted the Sunderland attack caused them problems and described Sunderland's approach as "effective".

Neil said: "I think first half although we at times played some good stuff to watch, I don't think it was effective enough and we didn't create enough clear cut opportunities.

"Their centre forward caused us more problems then what we've seen this season and I thought they played effective football.

"I don't think it was particular pleasing on the eye by any means but when they did get it forward they moved the ball, put it wide and turned us.

"When they got free kicks they got everybody up, however, we should be strong enough to deal with that.

"If that's enough to beat you, then in my eyes you're never going to achieve anything and that was basically the team talk at half-time.

"We wanted to get the fundamentals rights, win your tackles, win your headers - and if it's on and there's a bit of space in behind get them turned and facing their own goal and I thought we did that really well at the start of the second half."