How it played out and who impressed as youthful Sunderland side see superb first half give way to defeat at Fleetwood

Six debutants featured in a reshuffled Black Cats unit, who dominated the first half with an enterprising display that should have yielded far more than Callum McFadzean’s opening goal.

Strikers from Josh Morris and Barrie McKay turned the contest in the second half, with a slew of defensive injuries badly disrupting Sunderland’s momentum.

The Black Cats will now face an away draw in the first knockout round, set to played early next month.

Two reshuffled line-ups had understandably took time to settle into the contest, both managers rotating heavily with progress already secured.

Possession was turned over regularly to begin with, Fleetwood forging the first opening when Jordan Willis gifted possession away in the centre of the pitch.

Having been absent since the Portsmouth defeat, Sunderland had opted to give Willis some gametime ahead of his likely incluson on Saturday, and it looked a solid call, the defender coming through a shaky opening to lead his backline through a dominant first half. On this occasion, he was forunate that Anthony Patterson was switched on to make a solid save from Josh Morris at his near post.

Having survived that early scare, the Black Cats quickly began to take control of the contest.

They were inches away from an early lead when Embleton whipped a tremendous free kick to the back post, where Oliver Younger’s thumping header struck the underside of the bar before bouncing clear.

Using both feet, Embleton’s set-piece delivery was a feature of the contest.

Sunderland took the lead shortly after, though were a touch of fortune about the move. Josh Hawkes had done superbly to pounce on a loose pass, but Aiden O’Brien misread his ball into the box. Fleetwood blocked it, but the loose pass ran in to the path of Callum McFadzean. His low drive seemed to take a slight deflection on its way past the goalkeeper and in off the inside of the post.

Sunderland were the dominant side, impressing in possession and led off the ball by a lively display from George Dobson.

Though Patterson had to make another smart stop as Morris benefited from a short corner, the visitors looked the most likely.

Embleton struck the woodwork after some fine play down the left, combining with Neil and McFadzean before hitting the post from a narrow angle. The Black Cats hit the woodwork for a third time just before the break, with Embleton’s free kick turned onto the bar by a Fleetwood defender.

It was an impressive half from Parkinson’s side, though their momentum was disrupted either side of the break by injury.

Younger, who had been so impressive on his debut, was forced off afer a collision. His replacement, Cieran Dunne, then suffered a shoulder injury just five minutes into his own debut.

Fleetwood capitalised, Sunderland switching off as the home side broke down the left.

The cross came into the box and Barrie McKay had the simplest of positions from just in front of the penalty spot.

The home side were higher up the pitch, noticably more aggressive in their play and allowing Parkinson’s side less time in possession.

Sunderland’s position in the contest was further complicated by McFadzean, who was visibly struggling in his second game for the club after such a long absence over the summer.

The Black Cats staff were preparing a sub when winger Shayden Morris was able to isolate him on the right, knocking the ball past him and surging into space. His cutback was precise, finding Mark Duffy in the box for an easy finish.

Parkinson’s side were struggling to find their composure amid the upheaval, and were fortunate to see a tremendous free kick from McKay strike the crossbar with Patterson beaten.

Sunderland pushed hard for a winner in the closing stages, but were unable to build any sustained pressure.

One or two dangerous crosses flashed into the box but and large, Fleetwood were comfortable as they held on for a win that seemed unlikely in the extreme at the interval.

Sunderland XI: Patterson; Taylor, Willis, Younger (Dunne, 45 Steels, 50); Diamond, Dobson, Neil, McFadzean (Wilding, 60); Hawkes, Embleton, O’Brien

Subs: Richardson, Wearne, Curry, Almond

Fleetwood Town XI: Cairns, Duffy (Boyle, 85) Morris, Rossiter (Baggley, 45), McKay, Finley (Barratt, 89), Smith, Holgate, Hill, Rydel, Morris

Subs: Leutwiler, Hayes, Edwards

Bookings: Smith, 25 Embleton, 61 Willis, 72

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