Callum McFadzean’s early strike had put the Black Cats in control only for a series of injuries to hamper their flow, allowing the Cod Army to claim a 2-1 win.
But there were still some encouraging performances from a young Sunderland side who really impressed at times.
So who caught the eye? Scroll down as Phil Smith dishes out his player ratings:
1. Anthony Patterson
Little he could do about either goal as Sunderland lost their way either side of three defensive injuries. Made a couple of smart stops early on. 6 Photo: FRANK REID 2020
2. Brandon Taylor
Comfortably his best performance of the Trophy campaign so far. Made good decisions on the ball and battled well defensively. 7 Photo: FRANK REID 2020
3. Jordan Willis
Understandably rusty early on, but improved considerably in what was a commanding first-half display. Looked leggy late on during what was a good run-out ahead of his return against MK Dons on Saturday. 6 Photo: Frank Reid
4. Oliver Younger
Was so unlucky to see a thumping header from Embleton’s free-kick hit the underside of the bar early on. One or two nervous moments in possession but generally defended aggressively and with quality. A real shame injury forced him off before half time after such a solid debut. 7 Photo: FRANK REID 2020