Depleted youngsters rocked by errors

It was a very young Sunderland side that lost 3-1 at Derby in the Premier Youth League game on Saturday but they did not let anyone down, writes Neville Pilkington.

Missing were regulars Kane Evens, Andreas Edmundsson, Ryan Leonard and Dan Neil who all featured in the Under-23 game on Friday. Leading goal scorer Cole Kiernan was also injured.

Coach Paul Bryson said: “We didn’t do too badly. They never opened us up and the team plan and shape was good but we gave away goals.”

The first came in the 19th minute from a corner when Derby’s Eiran Cashin was left unmarked to score at the back post.

A minute after half time came a further self-inflicted setback when a cross from the left was headed into his own net by Tom Howard.

But they did pull a goal back on 68 minutes when Frenchman Lilyan Compper struck low to the keeper’s right from 15 yards.

The Wearsiders’ best spell followed and Ryan Gooch was clean through but shot straight at the keeper. Three corners kept up the pressure but there was no end product.

Four minutes from time came the final defensive lapse when Derby’s Liam Delap hit a speculative 40 yard crossshot. Sunderland’s keeper Adam Cameron and defender Harry Ord both left it to each other to deal with and the ball continued uninterrupted to creep in at the far post. Sunderland (4-3-3):

Cameron, Smith (Miller 45), Howard, Ord, Devine, Lilley, Scothern, Best, Compper, Slack (Gooch 45), Bell (Krakwe 77). Subs not used: Bond, Jones.