This is how it played out as Sunderland end their pre-season campaign with Hartlepool United draw

The Black Cats had fallen behind just minutes into the contest but were dominant thereafter, an Elliot Embleton penalty on the strike of half time restoring parity.

Hartlepool offered little until the closing stages but did then produce a number of good openings, and will therefore feel their draw was a deserved one.

Sunderland had actually started brightly from the kick off, but found themselves behind after the hosts’ first attack. The Black Cats were pulled out of their defensive shape too easily, and Jake Hastie did well to carry the ball from his own half all the way to the byline. His low cross caugh the unfortunate Ellis Taylor, and dropped into the far corner.

Neil’s side settled and the game quickly settled into a pattern, the Black Cats dominating possession in search of an opening against a resilient but deep-lying defence.

Killip was first forced into a save by Trai Hume, the defender meeting a cross at the back post from Taylor. Danny Batth came within inches of an equaliser when he met Elliot Embleton’s corner ten minutes later, but his effort dropped just wide of the far post.

Sunderland were controlling the game but finding it difficult to create chances.

To his credit Jack Diamond was giving his central striking role a good go, and he should have had an assist when he pounced on a loose backpass and teed up Embleton, who ought to have done better than blazing over from inside the box. Embleton had been his side’s biggest threat through the half, dictating proceedings from deep.

The pair would combine on the break to finally make the breakthrough. It was excellent from Diamond again, intercepting a poor pass and drawing a foul in the box. Embleton’s penalty beat Killip even through the goalkeeper guessed correctly.

The second half started in much the same vein and after good work from Taylor, Sohna’s cross was turned onto the post from the oustretched boot of O’Nien. Embleton met the follow up but in a crowded area fired just over.

It looked at that stage as if Sunderland’s second was inevitable, but with the start of the new season drawing ever close the game somewhat fizzled out as a contest. It was the hosts who had the next meaningful effort with barely ten minutes to play, young striker Joe Grey seeing an effort deflected over the bar after driving infield from the right flank. Moments later Carney had to make a smart save after an inventive backheel from Josh Umerah.

Hartlepool had made seven changes at the break and those fresh legs were beginning to tell, Umerah firing over from close range with minutes to play.

Tom Crawford had one final chance when he met a cross into the box from deep, but his effort was weak and the game drifted to its conclusion.

Sunderland AFC: Carney; Winchester, Batth, Alese; Matete, O’Nien, Sohna (Spellman, 84); Embleton, Diamond

Attendance: 4,785 (1,773 away)