safc.com reflect on how Sunderland under-23s got on in their 2016-17 campaign in the third of a series of five reviews.
DECEMBER
MONDAY 5 DECEMBER – Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Sunderland (Wolves win 4-3 on penalties) – Checkatrade Trophy
Sunderland suffered penalty shootout heartbreak as they crashed out of the Checkatrade Trophy to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday. Bright Enobakhare showed his class with 13 minutes on the clock as he strolled his way into the box, round Vito Mannone, and then tapped the ball effortlessly home into an empty net. Sunderland wasted no time in searching for a response and just four minutes later Tom Beadling slammed home a blockbuster equaliser from 25 yards. Mannone was then to thank on numerous occasions as pulled off a string of fine stops to force the match to a penalty shootout. While Sylvain Deslandes saw his penalty stopped, Wolves produced a dramatic turnaround to book their place in the next round of the competition as Luke Molyneux and George Honeyman were denied from the spot.
Friday 9 December 2016 - Southampton 0-2 Sunderland – PL2
Andy Welsh’s side wasted no time in getting over Monday’s disappointment, and an inspired second period saw Sunderland cruise to victory on the south coast later that week. After a drab first-half the match sprung to life after the break as Joel Asoro rifled the Black Cats in front following Elliot Embleton’s slipped pass on 50 minutes. Seven minutes later Josh Maja joined in on the act and doubled the Lads’ advantage as Harry Lewis spilled Asoro’s thunderous ball across the face of goal. Harley Willard struck the base of the post as Saints searched for an equaliser before both sides were reduced to 10 men as Honeyman and Richard Bakary were given their marching order with 10 minutes left following a coming together. However, the Lads remained untroubled and saw the game out to ensure they return to Wearside with all three points in the bag.
Sunday 18 December 2016 – Sunderland 1-1 Burnley – PLCup
Ten man Sunderland struck late on to earn a hard fought point against a stubborn Burnley side as they resumed their Premier League Cup campaign Eppleton Colliery Welfare. The Black Cats dominated proceedings throughout but were reduced to 10 on 19 minutes as George Brady was caught off guard when Khius Metz broke clear. Burnley rarely threatened but edged ahead before the midway interval when Jimmy Dunn struck from a corner. From there the visitors produced a defensive masterclass as they frustrated the hosts and limited them to few goalscoring chances. Sunderland’s persistence did pay off though as they earned a point when Honeyman rammed the ball home seven minutes from time after he combine with Andrew Nelson.
Friday 23 December – Sunderland 2-0 PSV Eindhoven – PLInternationalCup
Sunderland ended 2016 in style as they defeated Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven at the Stadium of Light on Friday. Following a closely fought opening period both sides went into the break having cancelled each other out. George Brady went closest to breaking the deadlock but glanced his header, from Embleton’s corner, over the bar. Max Stryjek kept the Black Cats in the game with a string of fine stops at the start of the second period before Embleton provided the killer touch on 69 minutes. Asoro wheeled away down the right flank before unselfishly squaring the ball to Embleton to touch home. Damian van Bruggen then stabbed wide from inside the six-yard box as PSV looked to strike back before Asoro provided the clinical thinking to seal victory. The Swedish star slotted home Honeyman’s squared pass to maintain the Lads' unbeaten run in the Premier League International Cup.
JANUARY
Sunday 8 January 2017 – Sunderland 0-1 Everton – PL2
While victory rounded the year off, defeat was suffered in Sunderland’s opening match of 2017 at home to league-leaders Everton. In a game of few chances, Harry Charsley scored the game’s only goal on 27 minutes when he raced clear of the Black Cats backline. Sunderland responded but rarely gained a clear sight of goal as the Toffees proved to be a sticky opponent at Eppleton Colliery Welfare. Asoro was denied by strong hands before Ethan Robson saw his thunderous free-kick turned behind as the Black Cats rallied late on. Everton, though, held out to move five points clear.
Thursday 12 January 2017 – Sunderland 2-2 Derby County – PLInternationalCup
A dramatic second-half fight back saw Sunderland secure their place in the Premier League International Cup knockout stages. The Black Cats trailed by two goals at the break after Calum MacDonald netted a superb free-kick and Mason Bennett saw his cross turned home by the unfortunate Josh Robson. But then, a quite simply brilliant comeback from the visitors saw them turn the game on its head. Nelson led the charge following the midway interval as his goal on 66 minutes halved the deficit. Rees Greenwood then saw his effort kept out by the feet of Kelle Roos before Cameron Cresswell turned the ball into his own net right at the death to secure Sunderland’s place in the next round.
Wednesday 18 January 2017 – Derby County 0-0 Sunderland – PL2
Thick fog played its part as Sunderland under-23s were held to a goalless draw at Derby County in the Premier League 2. Nelson had his chances in both halves kept out by a resilient Jono Mitchell, while his opposite number Stryjek enjoyed a largely trouble free evening at St George’s Park. With little to separate the two sides, Greenwood squandered a fine chance following a defensive mishap as Mitchell, again, came to the Rams’ rescue. And his saves did just that, as he forced the Black Cats to return to Wearside with just a point for their efforts.
Sunday 22 January 2017 – Sunderland 2-0 Cardiff City - PLCup
Sunderland chalked their first win in the calendar year following a silky smooth first-half display saw against Cardiff City in the Premier League Cup at Eppleton CW. Chances were aplenty for the young Black Cats in the opening period with Greenwood in the right place at the right time to stab home Robson’s parried strike on 25 minutes. The lads doubled their lead four minutes later, Beadling was this time the man on hand to poke home after Embleton’s driven free-kick. Last ditch defending from Jordan Blaise then denied Greenwood a second and Sunderland a third before the post came to the visitors rescue following Robson’s arrowed shot. The second period was more closely fought, but the lads continued to have the better chances as James Talbot was rarely troubled in goal. The result sees Sunderland extent their lead at the top of Group C to four points, with trips to Blackburn Rovers and Burnley still to come next month.
Sunday 29 January – Sunderland 0-0 Liverpool – PL2
Lynden Gooch made his return from injury and completed a planned 60 minutes as Sunderland were held to a goalless draw at home to Liverpool. Gooch spearheaded the Black Cats’ attack and created numerous chances in an enthralling opening period, Asoro was denied by Kamil Grabara before Beadling rammed his attempt into the side netting. Stryjek played his part in goal at the other end to keep the scores level, reading the danger time and time again to deny Matty Virtue and Madger Gomes most notably. Asoro was stretched off early in the second period before Maja saw his effort cleared off the line and Robson and Molyneux were both denied by the woodwork. Liverpool came on strong in the closing stages but the lads held firm and secured their third clean sheet in as many games.
