Comeback marred by missed pen

DUNCAN Watmore made his comeback after more than a year on the sidelines, but missed a penalty as Sunderland U23s lost against Middlesbrough.

Watmore played his first competitive minutes since suffering cruciate ligament damage last November and lasted an hour before being subbed.

It could have been a dream return for Watmore in front of watching manager Jack Ross, however, he saw his penalty saved by Brad James midway through the first half at Eppleton.

Sunderland did take the lead through a Jake Hackett free kick on the half-hour but Boro blew the Black Cats away with three goals in 10 minutes. Connor Malley headed home from a corner midway through the second half, with Daniel Ward putting them in front 15 minutes from time, and Stephen Walker making sure of the points a couple of minutes later.

Sunderland remain bottom of the table with just one win and four points from 11 games.

Watmore was by far the most experienced member of a side that also included, Bali Mumba, Jack Bainbridge, Benji Kimpioka, Brandon Taylor, and Jake Hackett, all of whom have played first-team football for the Black Cats.

Elliott Dickman also included trialist Sam Smart, a midfielder who plays for Southern League South side Basingstoke Town, who played just under an hour.

Smart, 20, had shown decent touches in the early stages on the right wing and it was his run into the box which drew the penalty midway through the first period.

Watmore stepped up but his firmly-struck effort was saved by Brad James diving to his right.

But Sunderland did make the breakthrough from a set-piece on 31 minutes. Hackett took the kick on the right wing and his delivery into the box curled beyond James’ fingertips and into the top corner.

Boro should have levelled from the spot within five minutes of the second half getting under way.

Jordan Hunter brought down Billal Brahimi inside the box, but when Liddle took the kick hit the base of the right-hand post.

Boro levelled on 68 minutes when Malley headed home from a corner. On 74 minutes they went ahead as Ward hit a low effort from 25 yards which found the bottom corner. And any chance Sunderland had of getting back on terms evaporated on 78 minutes as Walker’s long-range shot found the bottom corner via a deflection.