Dundee United 0 Sunderland 2: Story of the match after Trai Hume header and Charlie Mulgrew own goal
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fter a goalless first half, Trai Hume opened the scoring with a header for the Black Cats seven minutes after the interval.
United captain Charlie Mulgrew then scored a spectacular own goal to double Sunderland’s lead ten minutes later.
Here’s how the game played out:
RECAP: Dundee United 0 Sunderland 2 (Hume, 52) (Mulgrew, own goal, 62)
Key Events
- Sunderland XI: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, Wright (Alese, 65), Cirkin, Evans, Neil, Roberts, Pritchard, Dajaku, Stewart (Diamond, 65)
- Substitutes: Carney, Alese, Batth, O’Nien, Winchester, Matete, Gooch, Embleton, Clarke, Sonha, Diamond, Taylor
- Dundee United XI: Eriksson, Smith, McMann, Mulgrew, Niskanen, Edwards, Sibbald, Meekison, Harkes, Watt, MacLeod
- Subs: Adams, Graham, Clark, Chalmers, Glass, Freeman, Mochrie, Cudjoe, Watson, Duffy, Thompson
What to make of that side
Stewart injury boost as Alese named in the squad for Dundee United friendly
First of all it’s good to see Ross Stewart back in the starting XI after he missed the match against Roma on Wednesday.
Alex Neil has named a similar team to the one which started the match against Rangers for Sunderland’s first match in Portugal, with the likes of Corry Evans, Alex Pritchard and Patrick Roberts returning to the starting XI.
Bailey Wright will play for the first time in pre-season after helping Australia qualify for this winter’s World Cup last month.
Overall, it’s a strong side and we can probably expect a few more changes for Tuesday’s trip to Bradford.
New signing Aji Alese is on the bench.
Some familiar faces
Sunderland will come up against former boss Jack Ross today, after the Scot took charge of Dundee United in May.
The Terrors finished fourth in the SPL in last campaign and this will be their first official friendly of pre-season.
United have also signed former Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher on a free transfer this summer, after the forward was released by Stoke City.
Ross Stewart
Sunderland boss Alex Neil will have to make a call on Ross Stewart for today’s match, after the striker missed Wednesday’s friendly against Roma with a minor injury.
“Yeah, Ross just wasn’t quite ready for today’s game,” Neil said after the match.
“It’s nothing too significant.
“Obviously we had players who weren’t completely in their normal position, but I thought they adjusted quite well.”
Centre-back Bailey Wright is expected to play for the first time in pre-season after helping Australia qualify for this winter’s World Cup last month.
Alese on Sunderland move
Here’s Alese told the club’s website after his move to Wearside was completed:
“It’s amazing, I’ve known about the interest for a few weeks and I’m happy it’s finally done.
“It’s been hectic, I played Tuesday night against Ipswich and found out on Wednesday afternoon a bid had been accepted.
“I said my goodbyes on Thursday morning, caught the train up and here I am today.”
“It was a bit sad. 14 years is more than half my life and it’s difficult to say goodbye, but goodbyes are part of life and it’s time to move on.”
He added: “I live five minutes away from West Ham’s training ground and I’ve been there since the age of eight, so it could have been easier to stay but life isn’t easy and I’m ready for the challenge.
“I spoke to Alex Neil, Kristjaan Speakman and Stuart Harvey and I got a great feeling about Sunderland. This is the place I want to be, so now it’s time to crack down and get ready for the new season.”
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