Hopefully. The last update officially was from Dodds saying 'he has gone for blood tests'. I've seen nowt more about his condition tbh, hope he is ok
Aye, it seems a bit strange. It's seems more of a non football related type of thing to me. As I said, hope the lad is ok and it's nowt serious.
Sunderland AFC U23 2-2 Wigan Athletic U23 Sunderland Under-23s were eliminated from the Premier League Cup in the final match of the group stage on Monday night as Wigan Athletic produced a late comeback to claim a point at Eppleton. Zak Johnson’s first goal at U23 level gave the young Lads the lead shortly before half-time, before an own goal from Harry McGee doubled the Sunderland advantage. Two yellow cards in two minutes for Lads goalkeeper Jack McIntyre – the second after conceding a penalty – enabled Wigan to halve the deficit through Harry McHugh, before Tom Costello equalised five minutes into injury time, denying Sunderland any chance of qualifying through the top two of Group E. Michael Proctor led the side from the dugout on the night, with Mike Dodds alongside new Head Coach Alex Neil and assistant Martin Canning in attendance in Hetton. Benji Kimpioka captained the side and started along with Tyrese Dyce, both players forced off either side of half-time due to rolled ankles. Harrison Sohna, Tom Scott and Ethan Kachosa were among those also to start, with two trialists also playing the full 90 minutes as they enter another week being overseen by the Academy staff. Nicky Gyimah was absent due to being cup-tied, having featured in the competition on trial with Middlesbrough earlier in the season. Trialist B had two early chances for the young Lads, firing just wide before seeing an effort saved by Sam Tickle. Dean Pinnington struck inches past McIntyre’s post from distance later in the half, before the Lads took the lead. Harrison Sohna’s corner was twice only half-cleared by Wigan, the ball falling to 16-year-old Johnson to pounce and open the scoring three minutes from the break. In the second half, Sunderland wasted no time in making it two, as Caden Kelly’s delivery was aimed for Trialist B, but his intervention was not required as McGee’s attempt to clear found its way into the net. The Lads were in the ascendancy and Kachosa saw two chances go amiss as he pushed up to the right wing from right-back, and Costello headed just wide at the other end midway through the half. It was from the 85th minute when Wigan began to claw their way back. As Chris Sze nearly found himself through on goal, the forward’s effort to round McIntyre saw the goalkeeper clip him just outside the area – the referee showing a yellow card. The visitors sustained their spell of pressure and won a penalty 90 seconds later, Pinnington going down under another McIntyre challenge – a second booking and subsequent red being brandished. Trialist A took over goalkeeping duties with all three substitutes made and almost kept out McHugh’s kick, the power taking it under the stand-in ‘keeper. And the Latics levelled in the fifth minute of six added on, as Costello finished from inside the six-yard box from Pinnington’s delivery, knocking out the young Lads who now return to focus on PL2 action at Eppleton against West Bromwich Albion next Monday. SUNDERLAND AFC U23: McIntyre; Kachosa, Trialist A, Jessup, Newall (Fieldson 72’); Sohna, Scott; Trialist B, Kelly, Dyce (Johnson 24’); Kimpioka © (Gardiner 49’). Subs not used: A. Richardson, Jones.
Sunderland AFC U23 0-1 West Bromwich Albion U23 Sunderland Under-23s were edged out by West Bromwich Albion on Monday night, as a 50/50 contest saw the Baggies net the decisive goal in the second half at Eppleton. Quevin Castro cast the crucial blow 11 minutes into the second half, as the Lads passed up occasional but genuine chances. Jacob Carney was impressive in the Sunderland goal when called upon, making a string of fine saves to deny Albion both before and after they found the lead. Three trialists featured for the full 90 minutes for the Lads – two of them combining with first-year scholar duo Zak Johnson and Henry Fieldson as the second half’s back four after Cameron Jessup’s precautionary half-time injury withdrawal. Ellis Taylor returned from injury to captain the side and lead the line, with Benji Kimpioka, Tyrese Dyce (both ankle) and Nathan Newall (hamstring) all sidelined. The first two chances fell to the visitors, in quick succession from Rico Richards as the first sailed off target and the second was thwarted by a strong hand from Carney with Richards through on goal. Trialist C – playing on the left-hand side for the Lads on the night – looked lively throughout and hit the post with Sunderland’s first clear-cut chance, having received a tidy through-ball from Taylor. Ethan Kachosa on the opposite flank was as ever eager to get forward, and was denied by a block from Cianole Nguepissi after Caden Kelly had played him in Albion turned the screw after the break and Carney had to be alert once more, tipping over Jamie Andrews’ header, but four minutes later the West Midlands side did open the scoring. A set-play could not be fully cleared by the Lads, and Castro found space on the edge of the area in a central position to drill a low strike into the bottom-left corner for 1-0. As the hosts threatened a response, Kelly once again looked to find Kachosa who was making a darting run to meet his low ball across the six-yard box, just finding it going begging. Taylor then diverted a Kachosa pass wide with a first-time shot, before a counter from West Brom saw Trialist B – a teenage centre-half featuring in his first game on trial – deny Tom Fellows with a vital, well-timed tackle inside the box Try as Sunderland might, Albion just did enough to see out the result – Ted Cann in the visitors’ goal claimed Kachosa’s left-footed strike, whilst a last-gasp free-kick in injury time from Kelly dipped inches past the post. The young Lads will now look to recuperate and come back stronger, once again at Eppleton, against Stoke City next Monday in more Premier League 2 action. SUNDERLAND AFC U23: Carney; Johnson, Trialist B, Jessup (Fieldson 46’), Trialist A; Sohna, Scott; Kachosa, Kelly, Trialist C; Taylor ©. Subs not used: A. Richardson, Gyimah, Gardiner, Jones.
