Goals from Cameron Jessup and Ethan Kachosa were enough to hand Sunderland their first points in Group E of the Premier League Cup against a Leeds U23 team playing a division above the Wearsiders in the Premier League 2.
Elliott Dickman’s men were looking to bounce back in Group E after a disappointing 3-0 loss to Mansfield Town U23 in their opening game of the competition early last month.
Since that defeat, Sunderland had only won once, against West Brom last weekend, in their following four Premier League 2 fixtures.
Dickman’s starting XI was notable for the inclusion of 23-year-old first-team defender Arbenit Xhemajli following his return from a lengthy knee injury.
Sunderland writer James Copley has delivered his verdict on how each player fared at the Stadium of Light:
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Since that defeat, Sunderland had only won once, against West Brom last weekend, in their following four Premier League 2 fixtures.