Lads prepare for North-East double-header

Half-time 5-0 and all Sunderland 🙂
I'm actually a bit disappointed 'cos I was hoping that 'Sheels would be a bit better than this 😏

That didn't give me any answers ☹️

safc

Lads defeated in second encounter of the day

Gateshead 2-1 Sunderland AFC

Sunderland AFC suffered a narrow defeat at Gateshead in their second pre-season game of the day.

Jack Clarke was on target for the Black Cats from the penalty spot, but his goal was sandwiched in between two Owen Oseni goals which proved to be enough to seal victory for the Heed.

Just minutes after the referee called time on Sunderland’s 5-0 win at South Shields, Régis Le Bris made the short journey to Gateshead to see the second part of his squad in action.

Dennis Cirkin made his first appearance since November 2023 while the Black Cats’ starting XI also featured Jobe, Clarke, Anthony Patterson and Aji Alese.

Gateshead were the better of the two sides in the opening 15 minutes, drawing a number of saves from Sunderland’s first-choice stopper.

Their pressure eventually came to fruition when Oseni finished from close range after a well-worked free-kick was smartly flicked on at the near post by Joe Grayson.

The Lads responded well and were awarded a penalty on 27 minutes when Nazariy Rusyn was felled inside the box.

Swift play between Luke O’Nien and Timothée Pembélé down the right carved Gateshead open. The Frenchman fizzed in a low cross towards Rusyn but he went down under Regan Booty’s challenge and the referee didn’t hesitate in pointing to the spot.

Clarke - the Club’s top goalscorer last season with 15 goals - stepped up and made no mistake from 12 yards, sending Tiernan Brooks the wrong way to level the game.

Sunderland grew in confidence from there and were a last-man clearance away from taking the lead when Rusyn’s effort was headed away on 38 minutes.

Jobe seized possession on the halfway line, fed Clarke who raced away towards the edge of the box. The speedy winger fed Rusyn who did everything right but was denied by Kenton Richardson’s last-ditch header.

Gateshead fought back and regained their lead shortly before half-time when Oseni bagged his second from Tom Allan’s cross.

Sunderland looked to issue a response in the second 45, but Jobe failed to keep his effort down from 10 yards on 62 minutes.

Patterson was then called into action 10 minutes later when Greg Olley went through one-on-one, but the Lads’ stopper made a vital stop to ensure Gateshead’s advantage remained just one.

Le Bris made a host of changes with 17 minutes left on the clock, but the Black Cats despite seeing plenty of the ball the Black Cats couldn't find a way through to get themselves back into the game.

SAFC: Patterson, Pembélé (Lavery, 73), O’Nien (J.Jones, 73), Alese (Bell, 73), Cirkin (Bainbridge, 73), Matete (Ekwah, 45), Embleton (Middlesmas, 73), Benette (H.Jones, 73), Clarke (Watson, 73), Jobe (Walsh, 73), Rusyn (Trey, 73)

I don't think that it was . . . . a 'makeshift' defence with only Onions a regular, a terrible midfield of Matete, Embo, slow-motion Jobe and Bennette, and Rusyn upfront (who also has never played for a good few months and is not a centre forward).
The only decent players were Patta, Onions & Jack . . . . the team for the 'Sheels match were much better balanced and they played as a team, whereas this one didn't know each other 😏