Everton U23 0-1 Sunderland U23
safc.com’s Sam Lightle reviews the action from Finch Farm as Sunderland under-23s continued their Premier League 2 campaign.
THE WRAP
Sunderland under-23s executed their game plan to perfection on Friday afternoon as they defeated Premier League 2 champions Everton in their own back yard.
Luke Molyneux scored the game’s only goal with 85 minutes played, sweeping the ball into the bottom corner after an incisive move down the right.
But it wasn’t all plain sailing for the Black Cats who were up against it for most of the match, with James Talbot being called into action to turn over a venomous drive from Sam Lavery most notably.
The result sees Sunderland collect their second victory of the domestic season as Paddy McNair continued his recovery from injury while Josh Maja was forced to withdraw in the warm-up.
TEAM NEWS
McNair ramped up his comeback with more minutes in the tank for Sunderland under-23s at Finch Farm on Friday. Maja was scheduled to start but was withdrawn in the warm-up and replaced by Rees Greenwood at the eleventh hour. James Talbot continued between the sticks while Owen Gamble, Denver Hume, Brandon Taylor and Tom Beadling made up the back five. Northern Ireland international, McNair, 22, made his third comeback appearance in October, lining up alongside Ethan Robson and Elliot Embleton in the centre of the park. Luke Molyneux and Joel Asoro will provide support for Maja who leads the line for the Black Cats.
MAJA BLOW
The Black Cats were dealt a blow in the lead up to kick off when young striker Maja was forced to withdraw after picking up an injury. The striker was replaced by Greenwood who slotted into the No.9 role and was given the freedom to roam around the team and look to spark something against the current Premier League 2 champions. But the last-minute change seemed to do little to disrupt the Black Cats’ ebb and flow in the opening exchanges as they frustrated the hosts at a wind-swept Finch Farm. Elliott Dickman’s side showed good pace, moving the ball well and looking to utilise the pace of Luke Molyneux and Joel Asoro. But it was Everton who carved out the first opening, a sweeping move from the hosts move the ball from right to left, and Luke Garbutt dragged his effort wide of Talbot’s post with eight minutes played.
RESOLUTE
Sunderland were stubborn and dug their heels into the ground to frustrate the Toffees who knew victory would see them go top of the league, replacing Merseyside rivals Liverpool. Talbot was the busier of the two ‘keepers and was required to cut out Harry Charsley’s cross from the right and then Bassala Sambou’s tame header before Garbutt’s free-kick smacked into the wall. The visitors weren’t without their chances in a first-half which took a while to get going, with Asoro’s movement causing plenty of problems and then Greenwood’s launched pass into the Swede required defensive actions to be taken as Joel Robles mopped up the danger for the hosts.
STONG START
Hume looked lively down the left flank in the opening period and his tenacious efforts continued into the second as his deep cross picked out the forward run of Robson from deep. The midfielder burst into the box but was unable to make a clean connection on the ball and Robles gathered. Moments before, a tame Embleton free-kick slipped underneath the Toffees wall which leap but Robles collected the ball as it skidded off the turf.
McNAIR HOUR
Northern Ireland international, McNair, departed with another hour in the tank as Adam Bale came off the bench to replace him. Bale was involved in the thick of the action from the off, putting in a combative challenge which forced the referee to pull him up on it. As the half wore on, Everton looked more and more likely to get their noses in front, a powerful run from Donkor saw him surge over the halfway line and leave the trailing Black Cats chasing his shadow. Donkor strode into the box but his left-footed strike cracked the outside of the bar before David Henen’s cross on the left sailed high over. Moments later, quick feet from Donkor worked and opening down the left but Sambou couldn’t keep his effort and down under pressure from Beadling and Hume the striker lifted his effort over the bar.
LEFT IT LATE
Sunderland steadied the ship and in parts looked to the better team as Hume provided bags of pace and creativity down the left flank. But the Toffees proved to be a sticky opponent and struck back when Tom Beadling collected a yellow card for cyclically halting an attack on the halfway line. Sam Lavery then shifted the ball onto his right foot from the left side of the box and forced Talbot to turn over his vicious drive which soared towards goal. Frustration creeped into Everton’s match and the Black Cats seized their chance to pounce, with Molyneux providing the gloss on a dogged performance from the Black Cats as he incisively powered the ball into the bottom corner to snatch all three points.
Everton: Robles, Charsley, Garbutt, Baningime, Feeney, Foulds, Evans, Adeniran (Donkor, 34), Sambou (Lavery, 75), Henen, Baxter (Broadhead, 75)
Subs: Gray, Markelo
Sunderland U23: Talbot, Gamble, Hume, McNair (Bale, 60), Taylor, Beadling, Molyneux, E Robson, Greenwood, Embleton, Asoro (T Robson, 74)
Subs: Storey, Woud