Sunderland fell at the first hurdle in the Carabao Cup, with the Black Cats dumped out of the competition by League One Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. Alex Neil made a full slate of 11 changes for the cup competition but that was no excuse, with Wednesday boss Darren Moore also electing to make eight changes.
Instead, last season's quarter-finalists were second-best throughout and could have no complaints at the result. Dennis Adeniran fired the Owls in front with a stunning 25-yard strike on the quarter-hour, with substitute Sylla Sow taking advantage of some slack defending to add the second ten minutes into the second half.
Neil had said beforehand that he would use the game as an opportunity to give players who had yet to have a chance this season and he was as good as his word. Carl Winchester, Jay Matete and Jack Diamond - who have not made the matchday squads for the first two league games - were included, as were players such as Patrick Roberts, Bailey Wright, Trai Hume, Aji Alese, and Luke O'Nien, who have been on the bench so far.
