Sunderland's search for just their second win of the season continues after a disappointing defeat against Nottingham Forest. Prior to the game, the hosts had not won a game in Premier League 2 Division 2, nor had they kept a clean sheet in the competition.
But all that changed this evening as John Hewitson's young side came unstuck on the road. Forest substitute Ateef Konate would give U21s coach Dave Rogers a welcome first three points of the season, but Sunderland slipped closer to the foot of the table.
It was a first-half of very few clear cut chances with both sides intent on keeping a clean sheet. The hosts started the better of the two sides with Oliver Hammond seeing an effort saved by Adam Richardson before another was blocked by Ben Crompton.
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Billy Fewster then dragged an effort wide as Forest controlled possession. They could and probably should have taken the lead on the brink of half-time with Dale Taylor's shot striking the post - Richardson in the Black Cats goal stood no chance of keeping it out - but the effort somehow stayed out.
The hosts then picked up where they left off in the first. Substitute Konate replaced Jack Perkins at the break and would open the scoring for Forest.
The 21-year-old Frenchman curled in a free-kick from 25-yards out to kick the hosts into gear. They would come forward again through Hammond, but this time his effort crashed off Richardson's crossbar before Konate side-footed wide - a real let-off for the Black Cats.
Sunderland did have a brilliant opportunity of their own to level the scoring. Ethan Kachosa broke down the right-hand side, finding Robinson with his cutback, but the Sunderland winger's effort was well kept out by George Shelvey.
Forest then went up the other end in near identical fashion, Konate breaking clear down the right, cutting the ball back to Hammond in the middle but Richardson kept the low drive out with his feet. Sunderland huffed and puffed to try and find an equaliser but the Reds held out for their first win of the campaign.
Forest XI: Shelvey, Abbott, Mbe Soh, Donnelly (C), Powell, O. Hammond, McDonnell, Fewster, Collins, Perkins (Konate 46), D. Taylor (Salmon 78)
Subs: R. Hammond, Gibson-Hammond, B. Hammond
Goal: Konate (49)
SAFC XI: Richardson, Johnson, Jessup, Crompton (Wilson 88), Kachosa, Burke, Chiabi (Gardiner 82), Robinson, Newall, Pye (Watson 82), Thompson.
Subs not used: Bond, Bainbridge.
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