Sunderland under-23s suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to Wigan Athletic in the Premier League Cup on Monday night.
Goals from trialist Justin Kranthove and Jake Hackett saw the lads draw level at the break, after the Latics went two goals up through Kyle Joseph and Charlie Jolley.
But Alex Perry’s 51st minute strike sent the visitors back in front and despite some late Black Cats pressure, they held on to take all three points in Group F.
After his impressive cameo in last week’s win over Huddersfield Town, 16-year-old Joe Hugill was rewarded with a place on the bench once again at Eppleton CW.
Elliott Dickman’s side came into the game third in the group, behind leaders Liverpool and the Latics on goal difference.
And it was the visitors who drew first blood in the fifth minute with virtually their first attack.
Joseph raced in behind the Sunderland defence and fired into the bottom left corner, after he latched onto a pinpoint through ball.
Sunderland almost responded in the following attack when Cieran Dunne picked the ball up on the edge of the area, but his touch let him down and the chance went begging.
The Lads grew into the game with Dunne and Kimpioka looking lively up front, but Sunderland failed to create any clear-cut chances.
And the visitors doubled their lead on 25 minutes when Jolley fired home from the penalty spot, after trialist Kranthove tripped Chris Merrie.
But the Black Cats dug in and clawed one back 10 minutes later via a goal mouth scramble.
Hackett delivered a dangerous cross and Kranthove atoned for his earlier mistake by bundling the ball home.
And Sunderland were awarded a penalty of their own five minutes before the break when Kimpioka was sent tumbling.
Hackett stepped up and sent keeper Bobby Jones the wrong way to ensure it was level at the break.
The Latics regained the lead six minutes into the second period when Perry volleyed home from Luke Robinson’s deep corner.
And 10 minutes later they would have doubled their lead if not for a brave block from Brandon Taylor.
Benji Kimpioka squandered a good opportunity on the hour mark when he fired over the bar in the 60th minute.
The Lads pushed Wigan back in the closing stages, as Hugill and Ruben Sammut both saw efforts go close.
But Wigan held on to stay second and go three points ahead of Sunderland in Group F.
Sunderland U23s: Trialist, Mumba, Gamble, Trialist (Leonard 59), Taylor, Bainbridge, Greenwood (Hugill 45), Hackett, Kimpioka, Sammut, Dunne
Subs not used: Edmundsson, Abdelkader, Kokolo
Wigan Athletic U23s: Jones, Golden, Obi, Long, Robinson, Perry (Jolley 90), Baningime (Adeeko 85), Merrie, Joseph, Smith, Jolley
Subs not used: Aspinall, McGurk, Carragher
