Gateshead boss Alun Armstorng gave his verdict after the 2-2 draw at Hebburn
Sunderland U21s drew 2-2 with Gateshead at Hebburn
Sunderland U21s drew 2-2 with Gateshead at Hebburn
(Image: Jack McGraghan)
Sunderland are facing some big decisions over the future of a number of their academy products ahead of the new season.
That was the verdict of Gateshead manager Alun Armstrong after his side battled their way to an entertaining draw against a youth Black Cats outfit in a fixture held at Hebburn Town Sports Ground.
The Heed opened the scoring on ten minutes as one of their two trialists made an impression and gave Alun Armstrong to think about with an impressive touch inside Tom Lavery before firing beyond the helpless Blondy Nna Noukeu.
The Black Cats youngsters reacted well to falling behind as former Leeds United winger Ian Poveda brought a smart save out of Heed stopper Tiernan Brooks before a drinks break allowed Graham Murty to relay some strong messages to his players.
Those messages were well received as Sunderland turned the game on its head with two goals either side of the half-hour mark as Trey Ogunsuyi and Joe Anderson both found the net.
An equaliser arrived on 29 minutes as young striker Ogunsuyi pounced first after a Jack Whittaker shot had been blocked and the Black Cats took the lead for the first time as Joe Anderson sent a low drive beyond Brooks moments later.
Gateshead got themselves back on level-terms eight minutes before the break as former Middlesbrough academy midfielder Fenton John found time and space before sending a precise effort beyond the Nna Noukeu.
After a slow start to the second half, the two sides swapped chances either side of the hour-mark as Heed striker Frank Nouble dragged a shot wide of the far post before substitute goalkeeper Preston Leech kept out a stinging effort from Black Cats youngster Charlie Dinsdale.
Fresh from a loan within the second string at Serie A giants Juventus, Hemir returned for Sunderland and had two golden opportunities to grab the fifth goal of the game as the final quarter of an hour approached.
The rangy striker was denied by Leech after breaking in behind the Heed defence before crashing a rising shot high and wide after he worked his way into the right-hand side of the area.
Further chances followed inside the closing stages as Leech produced a reaction stop to keep out a close-range effort from George Bell just seconds after Gateshead academy player Kyle Harrison saw an angled effort strike the outside of the post.
After praising his own players for their display against a lively Sunderland side, Heed boss Armstrong turned his focus towards a promising crop of youngsters that are making their way through the Academy of Light.
He told ChronicleLive: “It will be a really tough test for the Sunderland’s younger lads because they are now trying to break through at a Premier League club and the expectations go up with that.
“You see it today, they have come up against people like Frank (Nouble, Heed striker), he’s using his body and they aren’t used to that in academy football.
“I thought some of their lads put in very good performances and they have some very talented young players within their setup.
“It’s always about what is next phase in their development and how they can progress. They have to keep working hard and maybe sometimes not taking the safe options and taking risks.
“They will find that if they come out on loan in men’s football, it’s a little bit different, there is a little bit more on it and it’s about points on the board, rather than development.
“There could be a few that need to get themselves out on loan, take that step in their development and experience life in the men’s game because then they can be ready for the big final step.”
Today's line-ups
Gateshead: Brooks, Pani, Williams, Grayson, Ferguson, Trialist, John, Lowery, Trialist, Bone, Malcolm Subs: Leech, Dodds, Hodgson, Harrison, Johnson, Richardson, Milmore, Lynn, Akinola, Doyle, Adom, Thompson, Nouble
Sunderland U21s: Nna Noukeu, Lavery, Kindon, Anderson, Lightfoot, Hunt, Jones, Whittaker, Poveda, Rusyn, Ogunsuyi Subs: Young, G. Bell, L. Bell, Holcroft, Neild, Matete, Scott, Ba, Dinsdale, Hester, Hemir, Field