Sunderland U21s secured a convincing Premier League 2 victory over Nottingham Forest at Eppleton Colliery Welfare
Sunderland thrashed Nottingham Forest 5-0 at Eppleton Colliery Welfare to make an emphatic start to their Premier League 2 campaign, with Trey Ogunsuyi helping himself to a superb hat-trick.
Jack Whittaker and Timur Tutierov were also on target for Matt Craddock’s side, who produced an excellent all-round display to build on last week’s Premier League International Cup draw against Jong PSV at the Stadium of Light.
Craddock made a number of changes to his starting XI, with Kay Munyakazi replacing Liam Hunt, who dropped out of the squad. Ben Kindon, Joe Neild and Tom Proctor also came into the side, while Aji Alese and Jenson Jones were among those not named on the 17-man teamsheet after starting against Jong PSV.
Sunderland make perfect start
It took Sunderland just two minutes to make the perfect start. Ogunsuyi was handed the opportunity from the penalty spot and made no mistake, striking his effort beyond Aaron Bott in the Nottingham Forest goal to give the Black Cats an early 1-0 lead.
With 16 minutes on the clock, left winger Tutierov burst into life, hitting the post and then the bar in quick succession after dancing into the box from his flank. The rebound eventually fell to Ogunsuyi, who could not quite connect as Sunderland threatened to double their advantage. Forest, for their part, looked dangerous on the counter and broke down Sunderland’s left before flashing a cross across Joe Cowan’s goal, though the Black Cats goalkeeper was able to collect comfortably.
Familiar faces at Eppleton to watch Sunderland vs Forest
Former Sunderland, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest winger Andy Reid was among those in attendance at Eppleton. Reid is now Head of Football Development for the men’s and women’s academy teams at Forest, while Sunderland’s Head of Academy John Hewitson was also watching alongside first-team coach Michael Proctor, whose son Tom started the game.
After around 20 minutes, Forest began to enjoy their first spell of sustained pressure, moving the ball around neatly in dry conditions with the sun shining. Tutierov remained a lively outlet for Sunderland whenever they were able to turn over possession and break forward.
Both teams spurn chances to score
With 25 minutes gone, Munyakazi played Ogunsuyi through with a clever pass, but Bott produced a smart save to deny the Sunderland striker. Craddock’s side could easily have been three goals ahead by that stage given the quality of the chances they had created.
Forest almost punished those missed opportunities moments later when Kalum Thompson broke down the left and produced an effort which looked destined for the corner. Cowan responded with a superb save to preserve Sunderland’s lead.
The increasingly influential Proctor began dropping deeper to get on the ball around the half-hour mark and produced a fine pass to release Ogunsuyi down the right. The move eventually worked its way back to Proctor, who was unfortunate not to score himself after another good stop from Bott.
Kindon preserves Sunderland’s lead at half-time
With 36 minutes played, Kindon produced an outstanding piece of defending to preserve Sunderland’s lead. The Black Cats’ defence had been stretched, and Cowan was beaten, but the centre-back recovered brilliantly to clear the ball off the line and deny Forest what looked a certain equaliser.
Sunderland regained a measure of control as the clock ticked towards the 45-minute mark, having weathered Forest’s best spell of the half. Craddock’s side continued to look dangerous when they were able to break forward, while remaining resolute at the other end.
The hosts had a late corner as they looked to add to their advantage before the interval, but there was to be no further breakthrough. Ogunsuyi’s early penalty remained the difference as Sunderland headed into half-time with a 1-0 lead.
Sunderland race out of blocks for second half
There were no changes for Sunderland at the break, while Nottingham Forest replaced Jamie Newton with Joshua Powell. The Black Cats started the second half brightly and, after good work from Munyakazi through the middle, Ogunsuyi forced Bott into a save from a tight angle in the 53rd minute.
Seconds later, Proctor threaded an inviting ball through for Tutierov, but the winger could only send his effort wide of the post as Sunderland continued to threaten. Craddock’s side did not have to wait much longer for their second. Ogunsuyi reacted instinctively from a Proctor corner to double Sunderland’s advantage, a deserved reward for the way the hosts had started after the break.
Sunderland extend lead as hat-trick hero emerges
Proctor turned provider again just minutes after Ogunsuyi’s second, threading a lovely ball across goal for Whittaker to turn home with ease and extend Sunderland’s advantage. Forest responded with a raft of changes as Archie Whitehall and Faud Smit were replaced by Blaine McClure and Zayn Blake in an attempt to regain some organisation and halt Sunderland’s momentum.
It made little difference. Ogunsuyi completed his hat-trick with 57 minutes played to make it 4-0 and cap a devastating spell from the Black Cats after the interval. Forest made another change a minute later, with James Sinclair making way for Kristian Clarke as the visitors continued to search for a response.
With 76 minutes played, Charlie Dinsdale was introduced in place of Munyakazi, while hat-trick hero Ogunsuyi made way for Jaydon Jones after an excellent evening in front of goal. Forest went close to pulling one back shortly afterwards, striking the bar with a speculative effort from distance as the visitors continued to look for some reward from the contest.
With 11 minutes remaining, Archie Lightfoot made way for Bayley Hester, while Whittaker was replaced by Charlie Scorer and Joe Neild came off for Luke Bell as Craddock freshened up his side for the closing stages. Forest also made a change, with David Modupe Buba Sanneh introduced, and the visitors continued to search for a consolation as Sunderland looked to see the game out.
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Cowan was called upon again with seven minutes left and produced another superb save, this time from a Forest free-kick, to preserve Sunderland’s clean sheet and cap another assured display from the 17-year-old goalkeeper. Tutierov added Sunderland’s fifth with five minutes remaining, although there was an element of fortune about the finish. His cross-cum-shot caught everyone out and flew beyond Bott to round off an emphatic evening for Craddock’s side, who ran out 5-0 winners, and it could well have been more.
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Trey Ogunsuyi nets superb hat-trick as Tom Proctor and emerging 16-year-old shine in Nottingham Forest hammering
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