Exeter City U23s 2-0 Sunderland U23s
Paddy McNair completed 90 minutes at St James Park and Jonny Williams played past the hour mark, but an under-23 XI bolstered by numerous first-team players was unable to avoid defeat at Exeter City on Sunday.
The Grecians crafted multiple opportunities before finding the breakthrough after 64 minutes, as Ryan Loft headed home.
Alex Byrne doubled the home side’s lead nine minutes later, and defeat saw the Black Cats crash out of the Premier League Cup.
Review all the action below.
STRONG LINE-UP
Elliott Dickman’s starting XI included a host of first-team players as a strong Sunderland side lined up at St James Park. Max Stryjek started between the posts as Brendan Galloway featured in defence alongside Jack Rodwell, with McNair and Williams starting in midfield. And Lynden Gooch partnered deadline-day arrival Connor Shields up top in a line-up that contained over 40 international caps.
TRADING BLOWS
Sunderland made a bright start to proceedings and Gooch led the way, with the USA international forcing an earlier corner which was cleared before forcing Lewis Williams into a low save after six minutes. Exeter hit back, though, and Jack Sparkes forced Rodwell into a clearance before Ryan Brunt’s effort whistled across goal and past the post. And the Grecians’ duo continued to test the Black Cats defence, as Stryjek denied Sparkes before Galloway thwarted Brunt’s attempted follow-up.
BATTLE FOR SUPREMACY
After an end-to-end start to the game, a lull followed as both sides battled for possession and midfield supremacy. McNair fired off target at the half-hour mark before Josh Key’s positive run ended in a goal kick, but the best chance fell to Loft as he beat Rodwell before sliding the ball past Styjek. The Exeter man was desperately unlucky, though, as the ball cannoned off both posts before the Polish stopper gratefully retrieved possession. And it remained goalless after the opening 45 minutes.
MORE OF THE SAME
Dickman made one change ahead of the second period as Rodwell was replaced by Brandon Taylor, but the Grecians picked up where they left off as Jay’s free-kick was saved by Stryjek. The Black Cats made a second change as Lee Connelly – fresh from his heroics at West Ham United on Monday – replaced Shields before the hour mark, but the midfield battle continued to ensue as chances were few and far between. However, the opener was just around the corner.
GRECIANS TAKE CHARGE
With 64 minutes on the clock, Exeter shattered the deadlock through Loft as he rose to meet Collins’ cross before planting a header into the bottom corner. And Sunderland could have few complaints, with the Grecians’ crafting the better openings throughout the opening hour. Nine minutes later, Byrne doubled the home side’s advantage with a near-post header nestling into the net to ensure Sunderland’s exit from the PL Cup.
Exeter City: Williams, Collins, Dean, Hartridge, Byrne, Key (Randall 80), Jay, Kite, Sparkes, Brunt (Seymour 56), Loft.
Subs not used: Norman, Dyer, Haynes.
Sunderland: Stryjek, Robson, Hume, Gamble, Rodwell (Taylor 45), Galloway, Gooch, Embleton, Shields (Connelly 57), McNair, Williams (Diamond 68).
Subs not used: Patterson, Hackett.