League One rivals Portsmouth to send former West Ham United youngster out on loan, Plymouth Argyle agree deal to tie up teenage star and Everton loanee nears Sheffield Wednesday start
Sunderland began the defence of their EFL Trophy with victory over Lincoln City last night.
By Joe Ramage
Published 6th Oct 2021, 11:40 BST
Updated 6th Oct 2021, 11:49 BST
Lee Johnson made 10 changes to his starting line-up with a number of the club’s academy prospects being given a run out at the LNER Stadium captained by midfielder Dan Neil.
And it was Neil who lit up the evening with a stunning strike from distance to open the scoring as the 19-year-old continues to impress since breaking through on Wearside this season.
And it was a memorable night for Stephen Wearne who came on for his debut and bundled in a second goal to help seal the win over the Imps.
The Black Cats return to EFL Trophy action next week against Manchester United’s U23’s as Johnson’s side are without a League One fixture this weekend due to international call-ups.
Here, though, we look at what has been happening around League One over the last 24-hours.
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And it was a memorable night for Stephen Wearne who came on for his debut and bundled in a second goal to help seal the win over the Imps.
5. Robinson slams U’s
Oxford United boss Karl Robinson was left dismayed by his side’s efforts in their EFL Trophy defeat to League Two Stevenage on Tuesday. Oxford took the lead through Dan Agyei before capitulating in the final 15 minutes allowing The Boro to come away from the Kassam Stadium with the three points. Defeat leaves Robinson’s side on the brink of exiting the competition in the group stage and he didn’t hold back after the game. “I can’t glam it up, that was embarrassing. I’m embarrassed,” he told This Is Oxfordshire. “It was ‘get out of the dressing room for a minute, before I say something I regret.’ You put a yellow shirt on for a reason. The first commitment is you run harder than the opposition and I don’t think some of our players did. The second part is you do the basics, we didn’t do that. When all else fails, you stick together as a team and we didn’t do that. The three components of our yellow shirt didn’t run true.” (Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images) Photo: Alex Burstow
Cambridge United stadium manager Ian Darler has been presented with an EFL long service award after 43-years with the U’s. He first became head groundsman in 1979, aged 19, and was the youngest person in the Football League to hold such a role. Darler told Cambridge Independent: “I can honestly say that the 43 years I have been at Cambridge United have flown by. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff and volunteers I have worked with over the years and to all the companies who have donated thousands of pounds of materials/services and products to me which have helped to keep the stadium safe and looking smart for its age.” (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Photo: Catherine Ivill
Shrewsbury Town’s versatile winger Josh Daniels is set for a spell on the sidelines after re-injuring his ankle in training. Daniels originally picked up the injury during a half time warm-up against AFC Wimbledon a fortnight ago but has since rolled the same ankle again. Shrews manager Steve Cotteril told Shropshire Star: “He injured it at half-time the other week, he rolled it, and then he ended up going on the pitch late on for Elliott Bennett. The following day in training he rolled the same ankle again. He's a tough boy, to be fair to him. But he hasn't been able to do anything, walk on it properly, at the moment.” (Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images) Photo: Pete Norton
Sheffield Wednesday boss Darren Moore has suggested on-loan Everton defender Lewis Gibson is close to starting for his side in League One after making a solid cameo during the clubs EFL Trophy win over Mansfield Town. Gibson has had spells with Fleetwood and Reading in recent years and Moore is hopeful the 21-year-old can start in the league soon. “He’s close,” Moore told the Examiner. “He’s done the volume of training and we’ve got him up to where we want him to be in training. We certainly felt we missed him when it was touch and go for him against Oxford. We felt tonight was the ideal game for him and he was always going to get 45 minutes and he did that.” (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Photo: Richard Heathcote