Recap the action from Sunderland under-18s’ latest Premier League fixture.
THE WRAP
Sunderland under-18s produced an organised display to secure three vital points in the U18 Premier League this afternoon.
Jordan Hickey struck five minutes from time to deal Derby County the knockout blow and secure three vital points which moved them onto 16 for the season.
TEAM NEWS
With Sunderland under-23s playing in Brighton on Friday night, Mark Atkinson was without Benji Kimpioka, Jake Hackett, Jack Diamond Lee Connelly, Jacob Young and Williams Kokolo. However, that was to be expected as Atkinson admitted in midweek a crop of his second-year scholars will be featuring more heavily in the development squad during the second half of the season.
OUT OF LUCK
Having not secured a victory since November, Mark Atkinson’s side headed to the East Midlands looking spark a run of form after the disappointment of exiting the FA Youth Cup prematurely. Both sides showed glimpses in the opening 20 minutes, a period in the game that was largely cagey but highly competitive as Derby looked to improve on their third-place position.
BATTERING RAMS
The hosts found their stride and swiftly set about attacking Sunderland’s rear guard. Anthony Patterson made the first stop of the afternoon, turning away Henry Wise’s effort from inside the area before Jordan Mills wasted his chance as he only managed to find the side-netting. At the other end, Sunderland were quiet. Offering stopper Matt Yates with little to do apart from batting down a number of teasing long-range efforts that swirled in the East Midlands wind.
KEEPING IN IT
Derby continued to carve out the better chances and Mills went close after the restart. Drawing a save from Patterson, the Sunderland stopper did well to turn the effort over the bar after he had worked a yard of space inside the area to fashion a strike. Jayden Mithcell-Lawson also provided cause for concern on the right flank. Teasing and toying with the Black Cats’ backline while flashing in two low crosses which went a whisker wide off of Morgan Whittaker.
LATE WINNER
And having done the hard graft for most of the game, Sunderland kept their noses in it which set up a grandstand finish. And with 85 minutes on the clock, Hickey applied a cool finish after a well-worked break, the cross bounced across goal and Hickey was on hand to touch it home, as Black Cats which smelt blood and sunk their teeth in to snatch victory.
Sunderland U18: Patterson, Devine, Mumba, Edmundsson, Hickey, Evans (Leonard, 54), Scothern (Lilley, 77), Connolly, Derbali, Greenwood, Dunne (Slack, 62)
Subs: Newman