Phil Smith's verdict: Inside Sunderland's long-awaited return and what we learned from it

A thunderous applause to break an uncomfortable silence.

Even in a pre-season opener, the first sight of a new red-and-white shirt, donned by players new and old, would have drawn a reaction from the loyal support there to see it.

In this new normal, the players shuffled out the tunnel and didn't quite know where to look.

No one to applaud, no roar to get the adrenaline going.

It was Max Power, perched in the stands at the Gateshead International Stadium, who broke the ice with this enthusiastic and more than slightly tongue-in-cheek intervention.

Power would have to wait 60 minutes for his chance to let off some of the steam built up over nearly six months without a fixture.

"Don't get sloppy", he roared at his team-mates. "Standards," he urged, time and time again.

By now Sunderland were comfortable, edging back into the groove and starting to look ahead to bigger challenges on the horizon.

Unassuming beginnings

A sedate start was to be expected.

The Black Cats had not played since that insipid defeat to Bristol Rovers in March, and though they were facing an opponent three tiers below them in the pyramid, it was a side who had enjoyed a good runout against Carlisle United earlier in the week.

A side who had also been in competitive action relatively recently, edged out of the National League North play-offs by Boston in late July.

Even so, there were familiar signs and patterns to Sunderland’s play in a gentle opening quarter.

The first chance came when Tom Flanagan stepped out from his slot on the left of the 3-4-3 system, driving forward and releasing Denver Hume with a fine through ball.

Chris Maguire was just unable to convert the cross on his weaker foot, but stepped up just moments later to show his quality with a superb free kick.

Sunderland's play in general was a touch slower than usual, the press unsurprisingly slightly less aggressive than we have come to expect and will no doubt come to see as the season draws ever closer.

Charlie Wyke began the game as something of a bystander, the Black Cats less keen than usual to play those early diagonals into his body or into the channel.

Instead, Sunderland looked to build from the back and their main threat came from Hume and their passing triangles near the opposition box.

Gateahead were happy to counter, and served their opponetns with an early warning when Lee Burge was forced into a stunning stop to deny Greg Olley as he found space in the box.

Olley's effort was one that looked destined for the top corner, the gasps audible even in this sparesely populated ground as Burge's left hand somehow pushed it wide.

Burge, who would make another fine stop in the dying embers of the game, no doubt felt the presence of Remi Matthews loom large even if he not signed quite in time to make the trip.

Jon McLaughlin's departure spelled an opportunity for Burge but hours before this clash, Parkinson had described the arrival of Matthews as a 'really big signing'.

Gateshead took their second chance, however, Sunderland again caught out of shape high up the pitch when losing possession.

That goal, and the departure of Elliot Embleton to injury, knocked their rhythm.

There was a familiar sense of dread when Embleton went down with few players around him. Mercifully, Parkinson confirmed after the game that the issue was not the hamstring that had kept him out of action for the majority of last season. Just a tightness in the thigh, a knock that will check his short-term progress but should allow for a relatively swift return.

An eye-catching cameo

A game that had gone a touch flat sparked into life when Parkinson overhauled his side as planned.

Embleton's injury had already handed an unexpected chance to Dan Neil, who scrambled down from the stand to take his place. His shirt without a number reflected that this was supposed to be a watching brief, but the poise and comfort with which he handled the ball was striking.

Non-executive director had served notice of this promise at the Foundation of Light's fixture breakfast 24 hours earlier, marking him out as a youngster making a big impression at the Academy of Light.

Parkinson had also introduced Arbenit Xhemajli at the break, the Kosovan trialist cutting an imposing figure on the left of the back three.

In truth, Gateshead's fading energy meant we learned little about his defensive class.

He looked composed and almost got himself on the scoresheet with a thumping header from a corner.

A decision lies ahead for Sunderland; you suspect this wasn't the day to make it.

Encouraging signs

Will Grigg was one the eight introduced on the hour mark, and caught the eye within seconds.

A sharp run behind the defence looked set to break the impasse, but the flag was raised just as he turned the ball towards the far corner.

It mattered little.

Jack Diamond had been placed in an unfamiliar wing-back role, but with Sunderland taking control and Jordan Willis stepping in behind him, there was plenty of licence to drive into the final third.

He accepted the assignment with relish, and it was a fine cross that Grigg confidently nodded towards goal.

If that header was good, the deft pass, first time off the chest, that allowed Josh Scowen to rifle in a third was even better. Encouraging signs.

The revealing post-match reflections

Many of Parkinson's change XI will feel they have staked a claim, and there will be a chance to step it up again when Carlisle United travel to Wearside on Tuesday.

The Black Cats boss cut a relaxed figure afterwards as he talked through the game and inevitably, the transfer jigsaw he was still trying to piece together.

With Neil and Jake Hackett both filling in at left wing-back, that is one of the obvious areas where one is still needed.

He says at least two more are needed, and a striker will be one.

Parkinson also took a few minutes to bat aside questions on the takeover talk that has utterly dominated so much of the summer conversations around the club.

There was a faint air of irritability as he stressed the good mood and focus on the training ground.

That he was well used to his, and that he was being kept informed by Stewart Donald.

That it was not affecting his work, and that the challenges thrown up paled into insignificance compared to how the salary cap had transformed his summer plans.

Supporters still know little of what lies on the horizon for their club at boardroom level.

In that, if little else, there was some normality as we began another long League One journey.