Exactly what happened and who impressed as Sunderland under-23s reach play-off final with Stoke City victory
and live on Freeview channel 276
The Black Cats’ second string have enjoyed a remarkable campaign and finished their regular season in fifth place in Premier League 2 Division 2.
That meant Elliott Dickman’s side now head into the play-offs where they will face a Stoke City side who finished second in the league – with the winners going on to face either Wolves or Crystal Palace in the final.
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Hide Ad2,000 fans are set to attend the game as COVID-19 restrictions ease.
Sunderland are likely to include the likes of Josh Hawkes, Dan Neil and Oliver Younger in their squad, while Lee Johnson could opt to use the clash as an opportunity to hand minutes to some returning first-team players.
We’ll be providing lupdates from the clash at the Bet365 Stadium throughout the evening, with team news, analysis and more from the play-off game.
FT: Stoke City 0-2 Sunderland U23 (Hawkes 57, Younger 66)
Key Events
- Sunderland travel to Stoke City in their Premier League 2 Division 2 play-off (7pm kick-off),
- Elliott Dickman is likely to include the likes of Josh Hawkes, Dan Neil and Oliver Younger in his side.
- Team news is expected at 6pm.
Gooood evening!
And welcome to our live blog!
It’s a big week for Sunderland and it begins with the club’s under-23 side - who head to Stoke City looking to take a step towards promotion to Premier League 2 Division 1.
Our man Mark Donnelly is at the Bet365 Stadium and will be providing live updates right here throughout the evening...
What are the rules and format of the Premier League 2 play-offs?
Two teams are promoted from Premier League 2 Division 2 each season – the league winners (who this year are Leeds United) and the winners of the play-offs
Four teams take part in the play-offs with 2nd playing 5th and 3rd facing-off against 4th in one-legged semi-finals. The games have to be played at the main ground of the team who finished higher in the league.
The winners of each semi-final then face off in a final which is held at the main ground of the finalist who finished highest in the league.
This year’s play-off fixtures are as follows:
- Stoke City (2nd) v Sunderland (5th)
- Crystal Palace (3rd) v Wolves (4th)
The early team news from the Sunderland camp...
Sunderland are expected to include the likes of Anthony Patterson, Dan Neil, Oliver Younger and Josh Hawkes in their side for the semi-final.
Recent trialists such as Tom Scott could also be involved.
Lee Johnson could also opt to use the game to hand opportunities to some players in need of fitness ahead of the League One play-offs.
Last XI (v Stoke City, D 1-1): Anthony Patterson, Kenton Richardson, Oliver Younger, Tom Flanagan, Jake Vokins, Stephen Wearne, Dan Neil, Sam Wilding, Josh Hakwes, Tyrese Dyce (trialist), Will Harris
Sunderland are here!
And as expected, the usual contingent of under-23 players have travelled.
Josh Hakwes, Dan Neil, Oliver Younger and Anthony Patterson can all be spotted from the lofty perch the press have been given here.
BREAKING: THE TEAM NEWS IS IN!
And here’s how Sunderland’s U23 side line-up: Patterson, K Richardson, Trialist, Wilding, Younger, Almond, Wearne, Hackett, Harris, Neil, Hawkes
And on the bench: A Richardson (GK), Dunne, Wombwell, Trialist, Trialist
It looks like a 4-3-3 for the Young Black Cats this evening, with Neil set to play just behind Harris with Wearne and Hawkes on the flanks.
There’s no first-team players involved tonight ahead of the League One play-off semi-final on Wednesday evening.
Some details on the three trialists involved tonight...
Sunderland have named three trialists in their under-23 squad to face Stoke City.
Tyrese Dyce, formerly of Premier League side West Brom, starts the game at left back. The youngster also featured against Stoke in the side’s final game of the regular season.
And on the bench are Tom Scott and Ethan Kachosa – the latter of whom has reportedly signed a deal on Wearside, but was listed as a trialist on the teamsheet.
Scott is on the books of Northampton Town while Kachosa was previously with Leeds United and has impressed for Sunderland’s under-18 side in recent weeks.
Not long to go now!
And Sunderland are going through the final stages of their warm-up.
The side are preparing as a back four as expected, with trialist Tyrese Dyce at left-back.