Hull City U23 0-3 Sunderland U23
Sam Lightle reviews the action from North Ferriby as Sunderland under-23s faced Hull City.
THE WRAP
Rees Greenwood scored twice as Sunderland produced a slick display in the snow at Hull City this evening to move top of their Premier League Cup group.
Andrew Nelson supplied the perfect start in the first period, heading home Elliot Embleton’s corner from the left.
Greenwood then scored twice in the second 45 to secure the Black Cats’ second victory in group H, moving them top with three games played.
SCENESETTER
Heavy snow covered much of the north east of England on Thursday as Sunderland under-23s made the three-hour journey to North Ferriby for their Premier League Cup tie. With temperatures just above freezing, Elliott Dickman thought tonight would be the perfect night to shuffle his pack as he installed a new system. Tom Beadling captained the side, with Brandon Taylor and Alex Storey playing alongside him in a back three. Josh Robson and Denver Hume supplied width on either flank as they occupied more advanced positions.
ICE COOL
Despite the freezing conditions and the new look to their side, the Black Cats got off to the perfect start when Nelson supplied a cool head to put the lads in front on 10 minutes. Embleton swung a cross in from the right and Nelson did well to loop his header over a stranded Tigers stopper and into the far corner. The Tigers showed their claws at times, with Tyler Hamilton weaving his way through Sunderland’s lines before testing Michael Woud, but Sunderland adapted to their new roles with ease and kept the hosts at arm’s length for much of the first period.
FLYING FULL-BACK
Denver Hume offered a luxury out ball on the left. Linking up with craftsman Embleton on occasions, Hume ventured forward with his electric feet leaving the Tigers chasing his shadow as he spurned two chances before Embleton drew a save from Charlie Andrew. For their chances, though, the Black Cats had to remain alert at the other end, Taylor blocked well from Ben Hinchliffe and then Woud confidently came off his line under pressure to gather a cross from the left.
ADVANTAGE DOUBLED
Greenwood got proceedings back underway for Sunderland at North Ferriby and within three minutes he had doubled his side’s advantage. Hume was at the heart of it again as he powered forward from deep and demanded the ball off Embleton as he approached the box. Embleton rolled it into his path and following a quick glance up he fed Greenwood who took one touch before smacking the ball into the roof of the net. It was assertive and clinical from Sunderland who immediately won the ball back following the restart as the lads hunted in threes.
ON THE GREEN
It was a seismic second goal. Not only did it give Sunderland a cushion to their lead but it killed off Hull’s hopes of a strong start to the half. Credit to the Tigers though, as they continued to dig deep but Woud was largely untroubled as Dickman brought on Owen Gamble and Adam Bale in replace of Ethan Robson and Taylor. And with 67 minutes played, Greenwood fired home his second of the evening to ensure the points returned to Wearside. Nelson raced onto a long ball over the top, checked his run and then fed Greenwood who approached the ball and lashed it into the net from 18 yards. Three points secured. Ha’way the Lads!
Hull City U23: Andrew, Yates, Fleming, Batty, McKenzie, Hamilton, Chadwick, Powell, Olley, Hinchliffe (Luer, 67)
Subs: Foulkes, Barkworth, Edwards, Thacker
Sunderland U23: Woud, J Robson, Hume, Beadling, Storey, Taylor (Gamble, 56), Allan, E Robson (Bale, 54), Embleton (Wright, 72), Greenwood, Nelson
Subs: Brotherton, Talbot