Sunderland U23 0-2 Swansea City U23
Sam Lightle reviews the Premier League 2 action from Eppleton Colliery Welfare this afternoon.
THE WRAP
Sunderland under-23s were dealt a blow in their bid to climb the Premier League 2 table when 10-man Swansea City edged out a closely fought encounter.
In what was a close match throughout, Oli McBurnie's brace proved to be the only difference between the teams as Cian Harries was dismissed late on for two yellow cards in the second 45.
Here’s how the action unfolded…
POINT TO PROVE
Sunderland returned from Leicester City on Monday evening having produced a defensively sound display. Despite naming a much-changed side, with Joel Asoro, Ethan Robson, Elliot Embleton and Tom Beadling involved in the first-team squad for Aston Villa, Elliott Dickman’s side stuck to their tasks well and frustrated title-hopefuls Leicester City to earn a point and a morale boosting clean sheet. Today’s challenge against Swansea City, though, provided a completely different test as Dickman was boosted by the return of the three of the players who missed Monday’s match at Holmes Park, with Josh Maja once again stepping up his recovery up top.
BURN-ING DESIRE
On a bitterly cold afternoon in Hetton-Le-Hole, Sunderland began strongly with Andrew Nelson and Luke Molyneux going close in the opening minutes. However, the Jacks swiftly found their feet and it wasn’t long before McBurnie, who scored twice in Swansea’s 3-1 win at Arsenal last time out, to fashion two openings. Firstly, McBurnie headed wide at the near post from a corner before later sweeping an effort a fraction wide of Max Stryjek’s top right-hand corner.
NIP AND TUCK
After plenty of early promise from both sides, the match filtered into a scrappy affair with plenty of stoppages as the game embroiled into a midfield battle. McBurnie continued to cause Brandon Taylor and Beadling problems and as they focused on dealing with him, Jordon Garrick should’ve done better as he glanced his header wide. Sunderland were quick to respond at the other end, but Embleton rashly let fly from range and his effort sailed a way over. Undeterred by that, Sunderland continued to stride forward, Denver Hume’s pace and willingness to break forward providing Sunderland with a great out ball. Hume did exceptionally well to wriggle his way past Joe Rodon, get to the byline and dig out a cross towards the mix. Luke Molyneux stooped for it but was unable to make a clean contact.
ON THE WHISTLE
And Sunderland were punished immediately after that as Kenji Gorre was tripped inside the area and sent tumbling by Taylor, leaving the referee with no choice but to award a spot-kick. McBurnie stepped up and calmly sent Stryjek the wrong way to give the visitors a half-time lead.
MAJ-OR STEP
Maja returned after the break and lasted another 15 minutes as he took a big step towards reaching full fitness. Having endured a lengthy spell on the sidelines side since suffering a knee injury at Bradford City in pre-season, Maja clocked up 60 minutes at Eppleton Colliery Welfare as the lads pressed for a leveller against the Swans. Molyneux failed to make contact with a cross from the right as he sneaked in at the back post before Embleton’s free-kick swayed in the wind as Sunderland looked to do damage when it dropped in the box.
SWANS UP FOR BATTLING
Swansea, though, made life difficult for the lads. Like the first period, the visitors grew into the match and before too long, McBurnie went close with a diving header off Tyler Reid’s early cross from the right. George Byers was next in line to crash an effort against Sunderland’s backline before Garrick failed to hit the target from inside the six-yard box with a header. The visitors looked well worth their lead, with Sunderland offering very little until Dickman made a tactical switch and brought off Adam Bale for Rees Greenwood. Immediately Greenwood offered creativity on the left, and it was his quick thinking that freed Jack Diamond for him to arrow a strike from range at Gregor Zabret.
DOWN TO 10
While the Black Cats lost Luke Molyneux through injury, the lads were dealt a boost as they looked to mount a late onslaught when Cian Harries was dismissed for a second bookable offence. Harries hauled Nelson back after the striker skipped past him, resulting in the defender being given his marching orders. From the free-kick, Embleton swept it in deep from right, Diamond rose at the back stick but couldn’t guide his header back across goal to do any damage. Sunderland pushed for a leveller late on, but Swansea held firm and doubled their advantage in the dying embers when McBurnie capped a swift counter to slot through Stryjek's legs.
Sunderland: Stryjek, J Robson, Hume, Bale (Greenwood, 74), Taylor, Beadling, Molyneux, E Robson, Nelson, Maja (Diamond, 60), Embleton.
Subs: Storey, Talbot, Allan
Swansea City: Zabret, Reid, Lewis, Evans, Harries, Rodon, Garrick, King, McBurnie, Byers (Maric, 93), Gorre (Cooper, 86)
Subs: Cullen, Thomas, Blair