Kiernan hits two but young Cats edged out

A brace from Cole Kiernan was not enough to prevent a 3-2 defeat for Sunderland Under-18s against Blackburn Rovers in Saturday’s FAPremierAcademygame, writes Neville Pilkington.

Yet it all could have been so different.

Leading at half-time by a Kiernan goal on 20 minutes following a good build-up between Connor Slack and Sonny Best, Sunderland never looked like conceding.

But one minute after the break came the pivotal moment in the match.

Sunderland wide man Ryan Leonard was clean through and should have doubled the lead but blazed over.

From the resulting goal kick, the ball should have been headed clear by Rayed Derbali but was allowed to bounce over him.

Blackburn’s Jack Vale got in behind for an easy tap-in to level.

The momentum was now with the visitors. They took the lead on the hour mark with a shot from the edge of the box by Isaac Whitehall and later full back Dan Pike scored from 20 yards to double the lead.

Ten minutes from time, Kiernan got his second from a penalty awarded for shirt pulling.

The young Black Cats spurned a golden chance to get at least a point three minutes from the end.

Best was through and should have squared the ball to provide an open goal but instead elected to shoot and his effort was blocked.

As Sunderland coach Paul Bryson said: “It was all so frustrating-the turning point in the game was undoubtedly the miss just after the break when instead of 2-0, it became 1-1.”

Sunderland: Cameron, Smith (Kennedy 78), Dervali, Ord (Lilley 70), Howard, Scothern, Edmundsson, Best, Kiernan, Slack, Leonard (Miller 70). Subs not used: Compper, Patterson.

Lucas Joao scored twice in the space of three second-half minutes as Sheffield Wednesday moved into the Sky Championship top six with a 2-1 win over Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

The Portuguese striker broke the deadlock in the 64th minute and soon after fired in from 12 yards to make it 2-0.