Sunderland were back in action on Saturday afternoon as they faced York City at the LNER Community Stadium.
Régis Le Bris fielded a different XI in each half, with an experienced side playing the first 45 before a predominantly academy XI took up the mantle in the second half. Sunderland took a 4-0 lead into the interval thanks to some superb attacking play. Enzo Le Fee bookended the half with two first-time finishes, with Chris Rigg and Timur Tutierov also on the scoresheet. York City moved the ball well at times but Sunderland’s greater technical quality showed as they ruthlessly exploited their opposition in the final third.
Here’s how the XI from the first half fared...
9. RW - Jocelin Ta Bi
Started brightly - goes past players so easily. Showed good composure to tee up Le Fee for the opener when he might have gone for goal. 7 | Chris Fryatt
10. LW - Timur Tutierov
Lively, almost assisting Le Fee early on for that dink but just delaying the pass too long. Kept at it and finished the half in style, curling a long-range effort into the far corner before showing good awareness to slide in Le Fee for the fourth. 8 | Stu Forster/Getty Images
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11. CF - Trey Ogunsuyi
Didn’t get much in the way of sight of goal but showed good strength at times to hold the ball up and bring others into play. Has a good first touch which he showed on a few occasions here. 6 | Jake Waters (left) and Trey Ogunsuyi (right). Photo by Ben Cuthbertson.