Sunderland U21's produced their best performance of the season to date with an emphatic win over Derby County U21's at Moor Farm at the weekend. The Black Cats produced the perfect response after defeat to Aston Villa last week.
The defeat against Villa was somewhat of a lesson for the young Wearsiders but a clean sheet this time out is testament to the work done on the training ground. Here's a look at some of the talking points from the win over Derby County.
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High press efficiency
The ideal academy set-up is to produce players that are ready built to fit into the first-team. Of course, they'll be raw, need nurturing and further experience before becoming fully established members of Alex Neil's squad.
The Scots first-team has been built on pressing from the front with Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms striking up an impressive early partnership. However, what's becoming more impressive, is how that style of play has filtered down into the Under-21s side.
The young Black Cats pressed at all the right times against Derby and the scoreline didn't flatter the visitors. Take the opening goal, Max Thompson forced Harrison Foulkes into a poor clearance with Owen Robinson winning the ball in midfield.
Caden Kelly's effort was palmed into the path of Michael Spellman who unselfishly squared the ball for Thompson to tap thee ball into an empty net - their just deserts. Robinson was again involved in a Sunderland chance, robbing the Rams defender near the right-hand corner and cutting in from the left, but could only curl his effort over the bar.
Sunderland had ample opportunities from their trigger press, but the best chance that came their way didn't end in a goal. Again, the Black Cats pressed high with Thompson forcing Foulkes into a rushed clearance.
Spellman picked up the loose ball and rounded the Derby keeper, but rolled the ball round the wrong side of the post with the goal at his mercy. The Rams could not live with the high press and the fourth goal of the afternoon epitomised Sunderland's fine work.
Ben Middlemas stole the ball up high and set up Thompson for his hattrick with a brilliant low finish.
Bouncing back from Villa defeat - John Hewitson
The Black Cats interim coach did not hide his desire to take over the reins full time, but admitted that it was up to those above him to make decision. The 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa was hardly the best audition for Hewitson, but this performance was a different matter all together.
Sunderland were assertive and assured, and probably should have won by more goals. It was a second audition for Hewitson and one that he grasped with both hands.
Speaking to safc.com, he said: “It was the ideal response to last week against Aston Villa. We executed the gameplan well, winning the ball high up the pitch – and we certainly grew into the game to perform better in the second half.
“We’ll take the positives from today and continue to learn from our mistakes in previous games, as we move forward. If we’re being critical it’s that we probably should’ve scored more on the day, but we’re really happy for the boys who have come in and made an impression.
“If you told us before the game we’d come here and win 4-0, we’d obviously have taken it all day. We stood up to the test in the aggressive manner we were looking for, in hot conditions, and that’s what we want to build on.”
Ones to watch this season
We may only be three games into the Premier League 2 Division 2 campaign, but Sunderland's front three have looked impressive so far. Caden Kelly has shown an impressive work rate in both boxes and has been at the heart of a lot of good things for the young Black Cats.
His set-pieces have caused problems so far this season, going close to scoring against Derby. Nonetheless, his pace and ability to find that extra yard of space has caused defender's problems in the early part of the campaign.
It's clear to see why - along with Michael Spellman - the duo have been on the fringes of the first team. Spellman's rise to prominence has been particularly impressive, signing for the Black Cats after helping Chester-le-Street United win the Wearside League.
He's taken that year of senior football and picked up where he left off. The Sunderland forward has played out on the wing for the Black Cats since arriving, with his direct runs causing havoc at times.
There's work to be done on his final ball but he's been an astute find in non-league football. You can expect to see him feature for Alex Neil's squad again at some point in the future after making his debut in the Carabao Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.
Another new boy to impress since arriving this summer, is hat-trick hero Thompson who capped a fine performance on the road. He scored two poachers goals from inside the six-yard box and wrapped up the scoring with a great low drive into the bottom corner that left Derby keeper Foulkes with no chance.
Thompson also showed the physical side to his game, holding off his man and a deft little touch sent Robinson on his way for Sunderland's third. The former Burnley striker struggled to influence the game in the previous outing against Aston Villa, but given time, he could be the next off the Sunderland conveyor belt
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