.png?width=1200&auto=webp&quality=75&crop=3%3A2%2Csmart&trim= "Copley's Sunderland U21s player ratings vs Spurs as 'brilliant' youngster scores 9/10 - Sunderland Echo")
Sunderland under-21s returned to action on Monday night in the Premier League 2 against Tottenham at Eppleton CW.
Felix Scott netted two superb goals for Sunderland in the second half after a goalless opening stanza but Tottenham bagged three of their own to secure a 3-2 win at Hetton in the Premier League 2 in front of a crowd of 382.
Sunderland came into the game hoping they could take another step towards securing a spot in next season’s Premier League International Cup. A top-16 finish would also guarantee qualification for the end-of-season play-offs. The Black Cats were 12th coming into the game. Graeme Murty’s men have just one game of the regular campaign left away to Aston Villa on Friday and will need to win it to secure their goals.
Lead coach Murty named a very youthful looking under-21s side which included eight under-18 scholars, with the likes of Joe Anderson, Tom Lavery, Harrison Jones, Ben Middlemas and Oli Bainbridge all with Régis Le Bris first-team for the clash against Norwich City in the Championship on Tuesday night at Carrow Road. Rhys Walsh and Cuba Mitchell were also rested after last week’s draw against Nottingham Forest as Murty rotated his squad with both making the bench.
The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates directly to your phone. Simply click this link to join our SAFC WhatsApp channel.
Marcus Neill, playing up front, had Sunderland’s best chance of the first half after 25 minutes but saw his curling shot deflected for a corner after good work from Felix Scott. Seconds later Fin Holcroft managed to block a certain goal with a crucial block. Tottenham upped the pressure as the half wore on with a series of attacks and corners with the home side pinned back at time but looking promising on the counter.
Sunderland goalkeeper Kelechi Chibueze produced a fine save to keep the scores level after 33 minutes with the former Leicester City man acrobatically diving to deny a Tottenham header. With the opening 45 drawing to a close Jack Whittaker tested Spurs’ goalkeeper Aaron Maguire but his tame shot was easily dealt with. The opening stanza ended goalless but Spurs took the lead through captain Callum Olussesi seconds after the restart.
However, Sunderland struck back soon after with Neill setting up Scott for a low shot in the area to level the scores. The 16-year-old first-year scholar then doubled his tally for the evening with a superbly struck right-footed shot 20 yards out, with Jaydon Jones getting the assist. Whittaker nearly put Sunderland further ahead but was thwarted by an excellent Maguire save. Seconds later, Oliver Irow levelled the scores at 2-2 with a clever finish.
With just three minutes of normal time to play, Tottenham re-took the lead after substitute Yusuf Akhamrich fired the visitors ahead. As Sunderland pushed hard for an equaliser, Cuba Mitchell and Archie Lightfoot came on for Jaydon Jones and Fin Holcroft. Spurs were able to hold onto a 3-2 win.
Here, James Copley rates each of Sunderland’s players against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League 2: