Jack’s back but it’s heartache for Saints
LOOKING BACK: SAINTS V SUNDERLAND, JULY 21, 2018
St Mirren..................0 Sunderland.............6
Sunderland ran riot to hand Jack Ross a happy homecoming at the expense of sorry Saints.
St Mirren’s performance highlighted some supporters’ worst fears that the current side is not yet ready to make the step up to the Premiership this season.
And with less than a fortnight until the opening game of the league season, boss Alan Stubbs conceded that he needs to delve into the transfer market following the 6-0 drubbing.
Josh Maja and US international Lyden Gooch opened the scoring in the first half before the pair doubled their respective tallies, while George Honeyman and Luke Molyneux completed the rout in the closing 20 minutes.
But the scoreline failed to tell the whole story as the Buddies struggled to get out of first gear on the afternoon of their record home defeat since moving from Love Street.
The returning Ross was handed a hero’s welcome from the home support prior to kick-off as he took his place in the opposing dug-out for the first time since departing for the Black Cats over the course of the summer.
And he proved to be the star attraction for some Saints fans, with some even asking for selfies and autographs while play raged on.
For some, that was as good as it got on an afternoon that Ross’ replacement Stubbs will be hoping to forget in a hurry.
The Saints manager made seven changes to the side that toiled against Spartans on Tuesday night, including handing starts to trialists Martin Paterson and Amine Lingazi.
Another trialist, Adil Nabi had to settle for a second- half cameo but proved to be ineffective when he did eventually take to the field.
For all that it was a tough afternoon, it could be argued that St Mirren were the side to get off to the better start.
Danny Mullen’s acrobatic effort almost caught Sunderland keeper Jon McLaughlin by surprise in the opening exchanges but the former Hearts stopper was able to parry behind for the first of a wave of early corners.
But Gooch handed Saints a sign of things to come moments later as he shrugged off his marker before dragging narrowly wide of the far post.
It wasn’t long before the Black Cats strolled into the lead with relative ease.
Adam Matthews’ long ball to Chris Maguire caught out the St Mirren defence and the ex-Aberdeen man simply laid off to Maja to slot home into the bottom corner from the edge of the box with just 22 minutes on the clock.
The Black Cats then made it 2-0 from the spot 10 minutes later after Gooch sent Craig Samson the wrong way after Cole Kpekawa brought down the winger inside the box.
Despite the scoreline, St Mirren still enjoyed some brief forays up the park. Danny Mullen fed in the trialist Paterson - but his strike was blocked, while Cammy MacPherson and Hayden Coulsen worked tirelessly to try and get the Buddies back into the game.
But despite it being a friendly the tackles were still flying in and ref John Beaton was forced to intervene as Jack Baird and Maguire squared up following the St Mirren defender’s sliding challenge on the stroke of halftime.
Sunderland weren’t for taking their foot off the gas, and there were certainly no niceties from the visitors as they simply steamrollered the Buddies in the second half.
They quickly extended their lead in 56 minutes when Gooch fired home into the bottom corner after Maguire’s strike was parried into his path by substitute keeper Danny Rogers.
Maja then struck his second and his side’s fourth before Sunderland skipper George Honeyman made it five with a scuffed effort past the stranded Rogers.
And Black Cats youngster Luke Molyneux put the cap on a fine trip north with the sixth late on.
For the Saints, it was harsh lesson to learn ahead of the Premiership. First though, they still have Queen’s Park and Dumbarton to face in the Betfred Cup before they can turn their attentions elsewehere.
ST MIRREN Samson (Rogers 45), P McGinn, Baird, Kpewaka, Coulson, S McGinn (Kellermann 82), MacPherson 6 (King 61), Lingazi (Flynn 45), Smith ( Nabi 78), Mullen 7 ( Erhahon 63), Paterson 6 (Stewart 71).
Subs not used: Heaton, McShane and Cooke.
SUNDERLAND McLaughlin, Love (Hume 80), Ozturk ( Taylor 84), Flannagan, Matthews, Cattermole (Mumba 74), McGeouch (Hackett 84), Maja, Honeyman (Kimpioka 84), Gooch (Molyneux 78), Maguire.
Subs not used: Stryjek.
Referee: John Beaton.
Attendance: 3,133.