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’m glad I went for a dip in the pool instead of watching that second half I know - pathetic As has been said numerous times before it’s all about giving the players game time and getting the fitness levels back up. They are off to Spain now and getting ready for the Forest game. Ha’way the Lads
Hmmm not sure about that mate, especially against Gateshead. We can say that all day long to make ourselves feel better but in reality with the players we have vs their players and the wages we had on the pitch today, its not acceptable
It doesnt mean anything tho, just let being 5 up at HT against South Shields means nothing Winning, losing or drawing in preseason doesnt dictate how our season will go Its great for Le Bris to see what players are like in his system and will tell him what else we need to do in the transfer market As i mentioned before that CM trio isnt good enough in the 2nd game and if we played a match between the 1st matches starting line up n the 2nd, my money would be on the 1st Good run out today for the lads, as always theres positives and negatives to take from both games Le bris will be working them hard in training to get everyone up to speed to play his style of play
We also drew with Dortmund in pre season and got relegated the next season. We also lost to Bradford and Accrington Stanley in 22/23 and finished 6th
Re: Rusyn I like him and expect him to play at least 25 games this season, perhaps a lot more if he can find his shooting boots. Important to keep in mind, despite his lack of goals, he played an important role as a 9 last season and when he was injured, we suffered for it. Hemir wasn't at it, Mayenda was away on loan and we were playing Jobe up front. Again with Sunderland fans, it's a case of careful what you wish for.
Hope they have an idea with jobe this season, don’t really know his best position tbh and if we sign a couple strikers he won’t be guaranteed a game
Understandable mate, but Gateshead are abit different to Dortmund. Im not being negative but i also wont take any excuses for this result either.
hmm, shields game much better (not because of the score) those lads seemed to be quicker to everything, granted there were mistakes that a 'better' team could/would have taken better advantage of and our lads were gifted a few mistakes from the shields lads. heed gave a much tougher game as expected, onien was his usual pre-season 'not caught up yet' but i thought pembele showed some nice movement along the wing, midfield just never had control and the front men got very few sniffs at the ball. couple of good early warm up games for the three clubs and that is all that matters in pre season.
It worries me why he never made a single start for Hibs and missed the bench quite often. What do they know that we dont?
It could be all sorts mate. Not necessarily proof that he isn't/ can't be a good player. He's a young lad who came to Sunderland and barely settled in before going on to Edinburgh. The intention was for him to get some game time and the loan at Hibs failed Mayenda just as much as he failed on loan there. By that, I mean it could have been a poor choice by us to send him to Hibs.
Sometimes players just don’t fit in at certain clubs or with certain managers. Hopefully he has a good pre season.
Hibs were a joke towards the end of the season tbh, manager under massive pressure so don't think he was ever going to throw a youngster in I mind hibs fans telling me how sh*t watmore was for them then the season after he broke into our 1st team and looked quality
I haven't seen enough of Rusyn for me to be confident. I just worry about him being a bit, not suited to Sunderland and pressure. Not many from that part of the world are big personalities and sometimes, I think he will graft but just shy away from the big moments. Let's see. I really want him to do well.
