Alex Neil and Kristjaan Speakman were both in attendance as Sunderland's youngsters were comfortably beaten by Aston Villa's Under 21's. The Black Cats went 2-0 down inside seven minutes as the visitors raced out of the blocks with two almost identical finished from Declan Frith.
Brad Young would add another for the .young Villa side just before the break to leave Sunderland with a mountain to climb in the second-half.
It was a baptism of fire for Sunderland's Under-21's who have had two interim managers inside two games. John Hewitson made seven changes from the young Sunderland side that tasted defeat against Norwich City on the opening day of the Premier League 2 campaign, handing handed Callum Wilson and Max Thompson their debuts for the club at PL2 level.
READ MORE: Sunderland U21s 0-4 Aston Villa U21s reaction
The visitors took the lead in somewhat controversial fashion. It looked as though Frith had strayed into an offside position, but the official's flag stayed down as the Villa wide man raced through onto a long punt up field, slotting the ball past Harrison Bond into the bottom right-hand corner from the edge of the area.
Villa would double their lead just five minutes later, again Frith had wandered in from the right hand side and found himself on space on the left-hand side of the box. He would roll the ball into the bottom right-hand corner with another cool finish into the bottom right of Bond's goal with great composure.
It took Sunderland a while to settle but they did grow into the game. Chances were few and far between, but Max Thompson did really well to hold the ball up on the edge of the box, rolling in Ethan Kachosa whose shot cannoned off the post.
It could, and probably should have been three with Frith causing problems again. He drifts inside from the right, laid the ball off to Tyreik Wright on thee edge of the area but he could only aim a tame shot towards Bond who gathered with ease.
Sunderland struggled with their final ball, while Villa looked a threat every time they came forward. Brad Young grabbed a third for the visitors just before the break with a smart finish across Bond into the bottom corner from outside the area.
Things would go from bad to worse for Sunderland with the visitors starting the second-half in the same fashion to the first. The Black Cats did well with a number of last ditch challenges, but a third block saw the ball fall to Seb Revan on the edge of the area, he got his effort all wrong as it looped into the air, only for the Wearsiders to be caught ball watching as Young powered a header past Bond to extend their lead.
When Sunderland did get the ball, they struggled to find their groove, partly due to the efficient high press from the visitors. Aston Villa dominated thee ball in the second-half but were unable to break the Black Cats down as efficiently as the first 45.
Both sides huffed and puffed but the best chance the Wearsiders had was a half chance at most. Caden Kelly was played into space down the left-hand side but his lofted ball to the back post missed Michael Spellman and Ethan Kachosa in the middle.
There were two good moments for Ben Middlemas to reduce the deficit from the bench. The second of those cannoning off the bar with the goal gaping at his mercy, but Villa were able to scramble the ball clear.
Aston Villa showed why they're expected to be up there at the end of the season with an assured display to see out the game.
SAFC XI: Bond, Wilson (Robinson 71), Johnson, Jessup, Newall, Trialist, Kachosa, Sohna (Chiabi 64) , Kelly, Spellman, Thompson (Middlemas 82)
Subs not used: Cameron, Bainbridge,
Aston Villa XI: Zych, Revan, Chrisene, O'Reilly, Swinkles, Lindley, Frith (Jay Hart 25), Raikhy (Ealing 74), Young, Rowe, T.Wright (Afoka 59)
Subs not used: J.Wright, Smith
Goals: Frith (3, 7) Young (44, 48)
Attendance: 316
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