Manchester United’s Under-23s returned to winning ways with a hard-fought narrow victory over Sunderland at Eppleton Colliery Welfare on Sunday afternoon.
It was the first time Ricky Sbragia’s lads had a triumph to celebrate since the opening day of the season at Leicester City when, coincidentally, the Reds won 1-0 with a goal from Demetri Mitchell. The success brought to an end a run of seven Premier League 2 games without a win.
It was a sunny and pleasant day in the north east as the game got underway, which was in stark contrast to the terrible conditions the clubs' Under-18 teams had to contend with at the Aon Training Complex twenty-four hours earlier when United won 2-1.
Sbragia’s Under-23s were certainly looking to put a break on the recent run of adverse results and the lads started brightly against the Black Cats with full-back Joe Riley testing Sunderland goalkeeper Michael Waud with a long-range shot in only the third minute.
United, in black shirts and white shorts, showed a determination in the opening exchanges that gained the lion's share of the early possession. Genuine chances were rare at either end but with Riley and Mitchell overlapping effectively down the flanks, the visitors looked the most likely to open the scoring.
Kieran O’Hara wasn’t completely unemployed in United's goal and on a couple of occasions he dealt confidently with the aerial threat from Sunderland’s main striker, Joel Asoro.
Indy Boonen may have been a little disappointed not to have broken the deadlock for United in the 34th minute when he connected with Zachary Dearnley’s fine cross from the right but could only volley over the crossbar from close range. Hence the lively, quick-tempo contest remained goalless, with drizzle starting to fall, as half-time came around.
United were swift to take up the offensive again as the second half started and in the 49th minute Mitchell’s trickery led to Sunderland defender Owen Gamble bringing him down in the penalty area. The referee wasted no time in pointing to the spot and showing Gamble the yellow card for his misdemeanour. Mitchell was soon back on his feet and seconds later he was celebrating after slotting the spot-kick past the diving Waud.
The goal prompted a reaction from the home side with both Gamble and Luke Molyneux trying their luck with speculative attempts from distance. But although Sunderland strived for parity and United tried to increase the advantage, Mitchell's strike from the penalty spot proved to be the difference between the two sides at the foot of Premier League 2.
United: O’Hara; Riley, Ercolani, Williams R-S., Mitchell; Sang, Whelan, Scott (McIntosh-Buffonge 85); Dearnley, Boonen, Kehinde. Substitutes not used: Tanner, Johnstone M, Hamilton, Bohui.