Report: Defeat at Hillsborough for young Black Cats
Sunderland Under-21s suffered a 2-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in the Jersey Mike's Trophy.
Goals from Jaden Heskey and substitute Barry Bannan secured all three points for the hosts at Hillsborough.
Luke O’Nien and Alan Browne started for Matt Craddock's side, with the experienced duo looking to build up their match minutes.
Eight minutes in, Wednesday threatened with the first chance of the game, as Joe Cowan brilliantly tipped Callum Slattery’s close-range header wide.
After Liam Palmer fired over from distance, the Owls took the lead on 20 minutes when Sean Fusire found Heskey inside the box, with the forward chipping the ball over Cowan and into the net.
The Black Cats almost responded four minutes later, as a neat flick released Felix Scott down the left-hand side of the hosts’ penalty area, but his low effort narrowly missed the far post.
Sunderland threatened again late in the first half, with Tom Proctor teeing up Browne, whose close-range effort flew wide.
Shortly after the break, Cowan was called into action once more, this time denying Jamal Lowe from inside the six-yard box.
The Lads continued to search for an equaliser as the half progressed, with Proctor’s long-range strike rising over the bar before Alex Lienard’s effort from a corner drifted wide.
In the 72nd minute, Craddock’s side looked to have found their leveller through Trey Ogunsuyi, but the forward’s guided finish was ruled out for offside.
Wednesday doubled their advantage with 10 minutes of normal time remaining, as Bannan clinically fired into the bottom-right corner from inside the box.
In the final moments of added time, O’Nien’s cross from the right found James Barker, but the substitute was unable to steer his effort on target.
Next up for the Lads is a Wear-Tyne derby away to Newcastle United Under-21s on Monday 26 October.
SAFC: Cowan, Lienard (Neild 76’), Bell, O’Nien, Jones, Whittaker (Munyakazi 85’), Proctor, Browne, Scott (Barker 82’), Ogunsuyi (Neill 78’), Dinsdale.
Unused subs: Metcalf, Kindon, Hunt.
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