Andy Welsh hailed Sunderland under-23s’ match-winning duo after their inspired second-half display at Southampton.
The Black Cats produced a lacklustre opening period but upstaged their south coast opponents after the restart as Joel Asoro and Josh Maja inflicted the knockout blows.
Elliot Embleton fed Asoro five minutes into the second period and the Swede made no mistake as his effort nestled into the bottom corner.
Southampton were rattled and never really recovered as Maja stabbed the ball home shortly before the hour mark after Harry Lewis spilled Asoro’s driven cross.
George Honeyman was dismissed on 80 minutes, along with Saints’ Richard Bakary, to add a slight dampener on the match, but speaking post-match Welsh praised his front two after they struck up a deadly partnership to see off Southampton.
“We were disappointed at half time because we created a lot of opportunities,” he said.
“I said to the lads at half time that it was a very winnable game.
“What was concerning for me was that on Monday in the Checkatrade Trophy at Wolves we had a really good first half and then didn’t perform in the second 45.
“We wanted to make sure we got that into the players and we made sure they knew how important it was to start very quickly.”
He continued: “We wanted to build and raise the intensity of our passing and we came out all guns blazing and scored two very good goals and were well worth the win.
“Maja and Asoro were outstanding - Maja with his hold-up play at the top end and Joel with his work rate just off the right-hand side and obviously got a goal and an assist.
“All together the team played very well and we are very happy to get the result.”