Sunderland threw away a lead to lose at Accrington in a game the Black Cats should have won at a canter. The Black Cats went in front through Ross Stewart's penalty on the stroke of half-time, after Jack Clarke had been fouled by Harvey Rodgers.
But in the second period Sunderland conceded two sloppy goals, first when Bailey Wright conceded a penalty for a foul on Sean McConville just after the hour, and the Accrington man got up to convert. And then substitute Korede Adedoyin capitalised on woeful defending to score the decider 15 minutes from the end.
Sunderland should have been out of sight even before Stewart gave them the lead, with only a series of fine saves from Accrington's on-loan Burnley keeper Lukas Jensen - and one bad miss from Patrick Roberts - keeping them at bay. And in the second half Sunderland squandered more chances before Accrington staged the turnaround.
READ MORE: Accrington Stanley vs Sunderland: highlights and reaction
Alex Neil named a strong side for Sunderland's penulatimate friendly, with his starting XI looking similar to the one that could line up against Coventry City on the opening day of the Championship season next Sunday. Only two players - Lynden Gooch and Clarke - were retained from the side that began the midweek friendly defeat at Bradford City.
And, after experimenting with three centre-backs at Bradford, Neil reverted to his preferred 4-2-3-1 shape at Accrington. The hosts shaded the early stages of the game but without asking any serious questions of Patterson.
Sunderland gradually began to take a grip and, after the opening ten minutes, it was essentially one-way traffic with Jensen keeping his side in the game time and again. Stewart should have put the Black Cats ahead when he was put though on goal by a precision pass from Roberts, but he dragged his shot just wide of the left-hand post.
Roberts then set up a chance for Daniel Ballard, with Ballard driving forward before executing a one-two with Roberts on the edge of the box, only to then steer his shot narrowly wide of the right-hand post. Jensen made a brilliant double save midway through the half, first to foil Stewart and then getting up to deny Clarke as he seized on the rebound, and then when Clarke picked up the loose ball once more and this time found Roberts at the far post eight yards out, he somehow fired over the bar with the goal gaping.
Roberts saw a shot tipped over the bar by Jensen, and from the resulting Alex Pritchard corner Stewart's goalbound header was blocked by the keeper who got down quickly on his goalline, and when the ball came back into the box this time Stewart's looping header landed on the roof of the net. Dennis Cirkin sent a shot wide from the edge of the box and then saw another effort deflected wide.
But Sunderland were awarded a clear penalty in the 45th minute when a crossfield pass found Clarke and he was bundled over by a clumsy challenge by Harvey Rodgers just inside the left corner of the box. Stewart took the kick, and this time there was nothing Jensen could do as the goalkeeper dived the wrong way and the ball found the bottom right-hand corner.
The pattern continued in the second half, with Sunderland continuing to create chances. Roberts fired a shot wide from the right side of the box soon after the break, and shortly after than Cirkin cut into the box from the left and his low effort was saved and held by Jensen.
Pritchard saw a long-range free-kick turned round the post by Jensen, and from the resulting corner Wright's volley was also stopped by the keeper. Sunderland's inability to make their chances count came back to bite them just after the hour.
The ball was played in behind their defence for McConville, and Wright dragged him down inside the box, leaving referee Ross Joyce with an easy decision. McConville stepped up to send Patterson the wrong way from the spot to equalise.
Accrington saw another penalty appeal waved away as Sunderland's defence got into another muddle, but this time nothing was given and in the end when the shot came in it was deflected behind for a corner. But more scrappy defending saw Sunderland fall behind 15 minutes from time.
On this occasion they failed to deal with a routine ball into the box, and after a scramble it was forced home by substitute Adedoyin from close range. Sunderland were unable to put meaningful pressure on Accrington in the latter stages, and if anything it looked like the hosts were more likely to extend their lead.
How they lined up
Accrington Stanley: Jensen, Clark (Longelo 49), Rodgers (O'Brien 83), Procter, Sangare (Perritt 29), Coyle (Conneely 74), Hamilton (Pell 67), Whalley (Leigh 57), Pritchard (Martin 67), McConville (Adedoyin 67), Lowe (Trialist A 57). Subs not used: Savin, Nolan, Fenlon
Booked: Adedoyin
Sunderland: Patterson, Gooch (O'Nien 66), Wright, Ballard, Cirkin, Evans, Neil, Roberts, Pritchard, Clarke (Embleton 75), Stewart. Subs not used: Richardson, Batth, Alese, Matete, Hume, Diamond, Taylor
Referee: Ross Joyce (Cleveland)
Attendance: 1,782
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