U21 Report: Youngsters defeated at Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur U21 3-1 Sunderland U21

Sunderland under-21s saw their title hopes dealt a major blow as they suffered defeat in their final Barclays U21 Premier League fixture of the season at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham’s Shayon Harrison scored twice before George Honeyman halved Spurs’ deficit in an action-packed first-half.

Mikael Mandron was denied by an excellent save from Tom Glover while Carl Lawson saw his effort rebound off the crossbar as Sunderland looked to overturn the scoreline.

But as the Black Cats continued to search for an equaliser, Spurs caught the Lads off guard late on as Harrison sealed his hat-trick.

With this Sunderland’s final match of the season, the Lads went into the game looking to maintain their four-point lead at the summit of the Barclays U21 Premier League.

However, their title rivals Manchester United hosted Middlesbrough at Old Trafford, and crucially the Red Devils still have three games in hand over the Black Cats.

Andy Welsh made one change to the side that drew with Southampton as Martin Smith returned to the starting XI in replace of Daniel Wright. Michael Ledger was also named among the substitutes after a three-month spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

It took Sunderland just six minutes to have their first chance of the game. Smith won possession on the halfway line and then carved Spurs’ backline in two, however Mandron was unable to beat Tom Glover and the chance went amiss.

Soon after the Lads were made to rue that missed opportunity as Harrison handed the hosts the advantage.

Anthony Georgiou capitalised on a defensive mistake before he rounded Max Stryjek and then squared for Harrison to slot home.

Ten minutes later Spurs doubled their lead, again through Harrison who met Will Miller’s cross well and powered his header beyond Stryjek.

Spurs were well worth their lead and continued to confidently knock the ball around as Sunderland were made to sit and be patient.

However, they didn’t have to wait long for their chance to come and Honeyman was on song to reduce the hosts’ two-goal cushion.Rees Greenwood won possession in the Spurs’ final third and then drew Glover off his line before feeding Honeyman, who tapped into an empty net to give Sunderland hope.

Honeyman’s strike really settled the Lads down and they began to find their groove as Mandron forced a sublime stop from Glover with a header.

From there on the Lads dominated the rest of the half and really tested Spurs resolve as Lawson smacked the crossbar after George Brady’s effort trickled across the face of goal.

Sunderland came out brightly in the second period and were quick to stamp their authority on the game.

But while neat and high tempo passing was nice on the eye, the Black Cats struggled to open Spurs up and the hosts were able to grow into the half.Harrison drilled a fierce shot – in search of his hat-trick – but Stryjek stood up to his effort and was able to beat it away with his hand.

Sunderland responded well though and thought they had levelled when Greenwood showed his class by executing a 60-yard pass to Lawson who plucked the ball out of the air perfectly.

Lawson then fed Honeyman who returned the ball to Lawson for him to fire home, however just as the net rippled the referee blew his whistle and adjudged the ball to have been out of play.

The Black Cats continued to huff and puff but couldn’t find a way through Spurs’ resilient backline and then the hosts went and snatched a third.Harrison grabbed his hat-trick in the first minute of stoppage time with a well struck shot across goal which left Stryjek with no chance.

Sunderland under-21s starting XI: Stryjek, J Robson (Nelson, 84), T Robson, Brady, Beadling, Lawson, Greenwood, Smith (Wright, 73), Agnew, Honeyman, Mandron.

Unused subs: Talbot, Ledger, Molyneux.