Simon Grayson was pleased with his side’s efforts at Glanford Park as they collected their first clean sheet of pre-season.
- How the action unfolded at Glanford Park.
- Match report: Our take on the happenings at Scunthorpe United.
Scunthorpe United pushed the Black Cats all the way, and had it not been for some heroic ‘keeping from Robbin Ruiter it could’ve been a very different story.
After a quiet first period, Funso Ojo rattled the bar on 55 minutes as the hosts looked to ramp up the pressure before Kevin van Veen drew a point-blank range from Ruiter as the lads held firm.
Meanwhile at the other end, Matt Gilks produced two sublime stops of his own denying Joel Asoro with a venomous strike from range and then George Honeyman with an outstretched left arm to prevent any late twists.
Speaking post-match, Grayson delivered his overall thoughts on the lads’ penultimate pre-season showing.
“It was a game with few chances between the sides but it was nice to keep a clean sheet,” said Grayson.
“At the top end of the pitch we want to be a little more brighter and little bit better, but again pre-season is a means to an end and it was good to see some of the players get 90 minutes and to see McGeady back.”
He continued: “You have to try and take as many positives out of the game as possible, but we’re still a work in progress and we’re nowhere not anywhere near the finished article.
“We’re still working hard towards the level we want to get to, but like I said it was pleasing to get a clean sheet and we’ve not been beaten.
“We have a quick turnaround following tonight’s game and we were a little short at the top end of the pitch, so it’ll be about making sure we have players available again for Saturday.
“James Vaughan has played quite a lot of football and when we took him off it left us a little bit lightweight at the top end of the pitch, but we also protected the players that came back without doing too much so that they’re ready for the weekend.”