Sunderland's second-string were in pre-season action as Gateshead FC visited the Academy of Light today.

Goals from Jordan Cook, David Healy and Oumare Tounkara sealed the win for the Lads and Reserves boss Keith Bertschin was pleased with the run-out.

Bertschin told safc.com: "All in all it was a good performance. We played better against Rangers last week, but what was good this afternoon was that Gateshead caused us problems.

"That's what you need in a pre-season game, teams that cause you difficulties so you can really be tested." He continued.

"They were difficult to manage in the middle of the park, but we figured it out and that's what you need. It was a really good test."

Many of the club's youngsters who just completed their second year in the Academy last season were named in Bertschin's line-up and the manager was impressed with how they coped.

"John Egan, Liam Marrs, Craig Lynch, Nathan Wilson, Louis Laing and the other youngsters all looked comfortable. It was a good chance for them to get a run-out and build their confidence."

Bertschin added: "Oumare Tounkara was a real handful, he's been doing ok and he's raising his standards, he took the goal very well and he seems to be improving all the time."