Elliott Dickman rued his team’s lack of a killer instinct following their defeat at Manchester City on Friday evening.
Sunderland under-23s’ bright start turned to dust on eight minutes, Demeaco Duhaney tapped home following an incisive breakaway move.
Rees Greenwood was then left with his head in his hands as he passed up two huge chances to draw the Black Cats level before Lukas Nmecha added more misery on 27 minutes as he doubled the hosts’ lead.
Lynden Gooch led the charge in the second 45 as he halved the deficit with over 20 minutes to play, but that was as good as it got for Dickman’s side with Jadon Sancho and Duhaney on target to wrap up the victory in closing stages.
Speaking to safc.com, the new development team boss delivered an honest assessment.
“We had three very good chances early in the game and it could’ve possibly been a different game from that,” he said.
“If we had taken our chances then it would’ve put us in a better position but they took theirs and made it tough for us.
“There is plenty to work on, we will do that and hopefully the lads will be receptive to what we want to do.
“We need to be clinical in both boxes – defensively and attacking – so we have got to be ruthless at both ends and that’s what let us down.”