Sunderland U23 3-0 Burnley
An assured display from Sunderland Under-23s on Monday afternoon secured back-to-back wins in the Premier League 2 for the first time since November.
Josh Hawkes, Ellis Taylor and Chris Maguire were all on target against Burnley as Elliott Dickman's side moved within four points of the Group 2 play-off places.
Dickman fielded a strong side for the contest, which included Maguire and a tireless Jack Diamond, as well as Denver Hume who got 75 minutes under his belt as he returns from a long-term hamstring injury.
Dan Neil captained the side, whilst Ollie Younger lined up and kept a clean sheet against his former team.
The game started with Hawkes leading the line through the middle, and it took just 90 seconds for him to open the scoring. A ball played forward from the Sunderland half was affected by the blustery conditions at the Academy of Light, and Diamond's persistence saw him latch onto it before goalkeeper Lukas Jensen. He knocked it on for Hawkes, who guided a first-time shot into the empty net.
A first half without too many clear-cut chances, the Lads remained switched on at the back, Younger cutting out a dangerous Max Thompson pass and Brandon Taylor crucially blocking Anthony Gomez Mancini's shot.
And the clinical edge showed itself once more when an opportunity knocked later in the half. Diamond again caused problems down the right as he stretched the Burnley rear guard, before picking out Ellis Taylor's smart run. Taylor elected to volley first-time, and it soared into the net despite the best efforts of the Clarets' defence to keep it out.
Thompson and Joel Mumbongo each saw shots dealt with as half-time approached, and the Lads enjoyed a second half of relative control.
Hawkes and Neil both saw headers loop over the top after the break, whilst at the other end Will Hugill and Ne-Jai Tucker came close to testing Anthony Patterson to no avail.
But the undoubted standout moment from the second half came just before the hour mark, when Maguire lined up a sensational strike.
After receiving a short corner from Hawkes just left of centre 25 yards from goal, the Scotsman arrowed an unstoppable hit which was still rising until it crashed into the top-right corner of Jensen's net.
The third looked to knock the stuffing out of the Lancashire side, as the Black Cats continued to control the tempo of play. Dickman's team strode on to take all three points and a welcome clean sheet, moving onto Good Friday's visit to Reading.
SUNDERLAND: Patterson; B. Taylor, Younger, Almond, Hume (Wombwell 75'); Wilding, Neil (c); Diamond (Hackett 87'), Maguire (Harris 83'), E. Taylor; Hawkes.
Subs not used: Bond, Beaumont.
An assured display from Sunderland Under-23s on Monday afternoon secured back-to-back wins in the Premier League 2 for the first time since November.
Josh Hawkes, Ellis Taylor and Chris Maguire were all on target against Burnley as Elliott Dickman's side moved within four points of the Group 2 play-off places.
Dickman fielded a strong side for the contest, which included Maguire and a tireless Jack Diamond, as well as Denver Hume who got 75 minutes under his belt as he returns from a long-term hamstring injury.
Dan Neil captained the side, whilst Ollie Younger lined up and kept a clean sheet against his former team.
The game started with Hawkes leading the line through the middle, and it took just 90 seconds for him to open the scoring. A ball played forward from the Sunderland half was affected by the blustery conditions at the Academy of Light, and Diamond's persistence saw him latch onto it before goalkeeper Lukas Jensen. He knocked it on for Hawkes, who guided a first-time shot into the empty net.
A first half without too many clear-cut chances, the Lads remained switched on at the back, Younger cutting out a dangerous Max Thompson pass and Brandon Taylor crucially blocking Anthony Gomez Mancini's shot.
And the clinical edge showed itself once more when an opportunity knocked later in the half. Diamond again caused problems down the right as he stretched the Burnley rear guard, before picking out Ellis Taylor's smart run. Taylor elected to volley first-time, and it soared into the net despite the best efforts of the Clarets' defence to keep it out.
Thompson and Joel Mumbongo each saw shots dealt with as half-time approached, and the Lads enjoyed a second half of relative control.
Hawkes and Neil both saw headers loop over the top after the break, whilst at the other end Will Hugill and Ne-Jai Tucker came close to testing Anthony Patterson to no avail.
But the undoubted standout moment from the second half came just before the hour mark, when Maguire lined up a sensational strike.
After receiving a short corner from Hawkes just left of centre 25 yards from goal, the Scotsman arrowed an unstoppable hit which was still rising until it crashed into the top-right corner of Jensen's net.
The third looked to knock the stuffing out of the Lancashire side, as the Black Cats continued to control the tempo of play. Dickman's team strode on to take all three points and a welcome clean sheet, moving onto Good Friday's visit to Reading.
SUNDERLAND: Patterson; B. Taylor, Younger, Almond, Hume (Wombwell 75'); Wilding, Neil (c); Diamond (Hackett 87'), Maguire (Harris 83'), E. Taylor; Hawkes.
Subs not used: Bond, Beaumont.
