Beadling spot on as young Cats rescue point against Derby

Tom Beadling kept his nerve to slot home a late penalty to earn Sunderland Under-23s a point in last night’s Premier League 2 match at the Stadium of Light, writes Roy Kelly.

Mika, enjoying a rare taste of the action, was at fault on both occasions as Derby led twice in the second half through Mason Bennett and Kellan Gordon with sub Daniel Wright scoring in between for Andy Welsh’s team.

Sunderland looked set to suffer a third straight league defeat, but, when Josh Lelan brought down sub Josh Maja, Beadling made no mistake from the spot in the 87th minute to make it 2-2.

There was no appearance for powerhouse striker Victor Anichebe, who was not risked, despite speculation he may get some game time.

Sunderland came close to nicking a seventh-minute lead when Jono Mitchell was caught dithering on the ball and almost let in Lynden Gooch, the keeper just getting the clearance away.

The ball fell nicely for Rees Greenwood, whose shot from the edge of the box was easily caught by the keeper.

Mika dived to his left to keep out a sting shot by Kellan Gordon in the 12th minute.

Sunderland had the better of the play, with Ethan Robson and Gooch tenacious, but did not create another opening until the 35th minute, George Honeyman’s good run and shot forcing an excellent diving save by Mitchell.

The Black Cats almost went ahead within two minutes when Donald Love found Ethan Robson, whose looping header from just inside the 18-yard box bounced off the top of the bar.

Welsh’s side were fastest out of the blocks in the second half, with Gooch and Rees Greenwood combining nicely to find Joel Asoro, but the teenager hit the side-netting with his left-foot drive.

The hosts went even closer two minutes later when Greenwood did well to create space for a shot, with his rightfoot effort from an acute angle producing a great Mitchell save onto his near post, with the goalie first to the loose ball.

But all the good Sunderland work was undone in the 57th minute.

Mika failed to punch clear a corner and the ball fell nice to the feet of Bennett, who prodded in from close range.

Sunderland went close to an equaliser as the luckless Ethan Robson saw his measured shot rebound off Mitchell’s left-post.

The Black Cats pulled level in the 76th minute, though not for long. Derby half-scrambled a Greenwood effort away, but only as far as Gooch, who played the ball into the sixyard box, where sub Wright converted.

But the home joy soon evaporated as Mika made a real hash of things allowing Gordon to strike the ball home.

Sunderland were handed a lifeline 86 minutes when the linesman adjudged Lelan’s sliding challenge on Maja was an illegal one.

The referee pointed to the spot and after Derby’s complaints and, bizarrely, a substitution, Beadling sent Mitchell the wrong way.

Sunderland are back in action when Reading visit Eppleton CW on Sunday (noon).