The story of the day as Aiden McGeady's brace fires Sunderland to encouraging pre-season win at Hearts
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After a draw at Spennymoor Town a fortnight ago, followed by two behind closed doors fixtures against local opponents last weekend, the Black Cats headed to Tynecastle ready for a step-up in opposition.
Lee Johnson’s side have been based in Edinburgh for the majority of the week as part of a pre-season training camp and will hope to end a fruitful week with victory against the Scottish Premiership side.
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Hide AdThe game could saw summer signings Corry Evans and Callum Doyle handed their debuts – while Aiden McGeady featured for the first time since penning fresh contracts.
A number of the club’s promising youngsters were also be involved.
Phil Smith and Mark Donnelly were at the game for The Echo, bringing you build-up, team news, match coverage, analysis, insight, reaction and more from the pre-season fixture – which you can relive here.
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FT: Hearts 0-2 Sunderland AFC (McGeady 15, 42)
Key Events
- Sunderland travel to Tynecastle in their second public pre-season friendly.
- Lee Johnson is again set to experiment with his squad ahead of the new League One season.
- SAFC XI: Patterson, Winchester, Doyle, Flanagan, Dyce, Neil, Embleton, McGeady, Gooch, O’Brien, Stewart
10 - CHANCE!
McGeady, egged on by the crowd, takes aim from 25 yards.
His shot is always rising though and causes Hearts no danger.
15 - GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAL! McGEADY!
The winger waits and waits for Stewart to move, then slots the ball into the gaping net.
He then salutes the Hearts fans who have been booing him throughout!
1-0!
21 - Sunderland are having to do some defending now...
Hearts have been in the ascendancy since the opening goal, getting into some good areas and stretching Sunderland at times.
But Patterson is still yet to be forced into a meaningful save, with those in front of him dealing with the danger.
23 - Drinks break!
It is exceedingly hot here, and the players will now have a brief stoppage to take on some fluids.
27 - Hearts continuing to dominate possession
But while they are delivering plenty of balls into the box, they’re still yet to fashion any real chances.
Flanagan and Doyle have done well to clear the danger on several occasions but Sunderland just can’t make it stick in the final third.
30 - Boyce fires well over
After another attack, Walker curls the ball towards the back post for the hosts.
Boyce meets in on the stretch but can only divert over.
31 - Superb from Doyle!
It’s certainly been an encouraging debut from the youngster so far.
After Mackay-Steven broke in from the left, the winger looked set to seriously test Patterson.
But before he could shoot, Doyle executed a perfectly timed to tackle to halt him in his tracks - earning praise from the Sunderland bench.