George Brady has paid tribute to his team-mates after Sunderland under-23s moved top of the Premier League 2 on Tuesday evening following victory at Everton.
The central defender scored the game’s only goal on 71 minutes when he came up from the back to head Tom Beadling’s fine free-kick past a helpless Joel Robles.
Andy Welsh’s young guns were made to soak up large spells of intense pressure as a previously undefeated Toffees side looked to extent their stay at the top of the league.
But the Black Cats produced a committed display and after frustrating the hosts for much of the game, Brady snatched the winner to see the under-23s leapfrog their Merseyside counterparts in the league.
Speaking to safc.com the defender shared his delight to get on the score-sheet and praised his team-mates following their solid start to the season.
“I have been working hard this season and it’s about time I got a goal,” he said. “The lads have been working hard and everyone of them put in a good performance and that was great to see.
“We keep going on about taking no risks at the back and that comes with clean sheet so it’s something we are happy with again.
“It was a tough game but we gave everything and towards the end we were fighting for our lives, but we pulled it off so everyone should be happy with their efforts,” he continued.
“We got so close last year (to winning the league) but we have got to keep going, keep working hard, cut out silly mistakes and keep taking each game as it comes.”