Danny Batth made his comeback from an ankle injury but could not prevent an experienced Sunderland U23s side suffering a fifth successive Premier League 2 defeat. Batth was one of five first-teamers in the starting XI which took on Burnley U23s at the Stadium of Light and he completed the full 90 minutes.
In the first period Sunderland were the better side and should have been out of sight by the break, but two second-half goals from Owen Dodgson gave the Lancashire side the points. Dodgson struck on the hour to give the Clarets the lead before capitalising on a mistake by goalkeeper Thorben Hoffmann for the second with a little over ten minutes to go.
U23s boss Michael Proctor included senior men Hoffmann, Batth, Arbenit Xhemajli, Leon Dajaku, and Elliot Embleton, in the side. Striker Benji Kimpioka was making his comeback from ankle injury, while trialist Michael Spellman was included once more.
