Darlington 0-2 Sunderland

Roy Keane
By SAFCbanter
July 18 2007

Sunderland start pre-seaon with a win over fellow north-east side Darlington

Sunderland start pre-season with a solid win over fellow north-east side Darlington at the TFM Arena.

5500 Mackems made the short trip down to Darlington to see Roy Keane's Sunderland in their first match since being crowned Championship champions at Luton back in May.

The game was played on a brand-new pitch which had only just been layed, but heavy rain before & during the game ment the surface become slippy and waterlogged in places. Dispite this Sunderland made the most of the game and opened with a early goal from left-wingger Ross Wallace just 12mins into the game.

Roy Keane's side did not include new signings Kieran Richardson, Michael Chopra, Russel Anderson and Dickson Etuhu. Greg Halford was Keane's only summer signing to play in this match and looked good from the start.

After a long 6 month injury layoff Graham Kavanagh made a return to action playing 45mins for Sunderland.

Keane made 9 half-time subs, one of which, Anthony Stokes, scored the 2nd goal for the Black Cats in the 76th mintue of the game.

Darlington goal-keeper Andy Oakes was on form and stoped early chances from Grant Leadbitter, Daryl Murphy and new boy Greg Halford's header stright from a corner. Just 2 minutes later a Leadbitter corner found Wallace who gave Sunderland the lead.

Sunderland team:

Fulop (Ward 45), Halford (Kay 45), Nosworthy (Varga 45), Collins (Donoghue 45), Clarke, Leadbitter (Hysen 45), Kavanagh(Yorke 45), Whitehead (Miller 45), Wallace, Murphy(Stokes 45), Connolly (John 45).

Sunderland return to action on Saturday when they travel to Scunthorpe United(3pm K.O.)

Image: Roy Keane watchs from the dugout as Sunderland dominate on the waterloged surface