Sunderland's pre-season build up suffered a setback at Field Mill on Saturday, with Third Division Mansfield Town destroying Peter Reid's side, which included seven first team regulars.

Even the return of mercurial striker Niall Quinn couldn't spur on the Black Cats and they were outclassed by Mansfield in all departments, leaving Reid to sum up the game in typically honest fashion.

"We were not good enough, it was as simple as that. We looked unfit and leggy and I wasn't pleased with our effort at all." Reid fumed.

"The lads showed no respect for our opposition and seemed to think we just had to turn up to win but that attitude gets you nowhere and we were outplayed by Mansfield and they passed the ball around the park very well."

However, with four weeks until the start of the Premiership season, Reid has plenty of time to get his side into shape and despite his disappointment at the defeat managed to take a couple of plus points in the comeback of Quinn and a good performance by David Bellion. "Niall got through 45 minutes which was always our intention and I am happy with his performance. In the first half he worked well with David Bellion who again showed why I brought him to the club."

"To be fair David was the only player who looked really sharp and deserved a goal for his efforts although that wasn't to be at the end of the day."

Mansfield, who now ply their trade in a freshly redeveloped 10,000 seat stadium, were outclassed in the opening exchanges and Bellion and Quinn caused early panic in the Stags defence with a good interchange before the Frenchman was flagged offside.

But just seconds later, Mansfield stunned the 2000 Sunderland fans who had made the journey by taking a shock lead.

Wayne Corden's ball over the top of the defence was chased by the highly rated Chris Greenacre who saw his shot parried into the direction of midfielder Liam Lawrence by Jurgen Macho.

The Mansfield youngster then cooly rounded Macho and slotted the ball into an empty net to score his 5th goal in just 10 starts for the club since signing professional terms last summer. A cup-tie atmosphere soon developed and Mansfield had a lucky escape on the half-hour when Quinn outpowered Stuart Reddington and lobbed the ball over ex-Manchester United keeper Kevin Pilkington from 25 yards only for the crossbar to come to the Stags rescue. One of the hottest properties in Division Three, Chris Greenacre was on the scoresheet just after the break with a textbook first time lob over Macho after a terrific ball forward by defender Alistair Asher.

By this stage Sunderland seemed to be thinking of the trip back up the A1 and Mansfield had a third goal disallowed when Shayne Bradley headed in from an offside position and the Cats had to rely on a goal-line clearance by Ben Clarke to deny Greenacre seconds after.

Mansfield were not to be denied and striker Andy White beat Jurgen Macho to the ball to score the Stags third with a far post tap in after a cross by former Hartlepool player Martin Pemberton.

Sunderland's consolation goal came in the last minute of the game when Don Hutchison, who barely broke out of a trot all afternoon, drilled a free-kick through the wall and into the bottom corner.

The Black Cats face Celtic tomorrow night and could be without back-up keeper Macho who picked up a knee injury in the closing stages and Stan Varga who was withdrawn at half-time with back problems.

Matchfacts

MANSFIELD: Pilkington, Hassell, Reddington, Robinson, Pemberton, Lawrence (Jervis 73), Williamson (Williams 45), Disley (Andrews 87), Corden (Asher 45), Greenacre (Bacon 79), Bradley (White 67) Unused Sub: Bingham SUNDERLAND: Macho, Ramsden, McCartney, Hutchison, Varga (Williams 45), Craddock (Clarke 56), Oster (Lumsden 45), Thirwell, Quinn (Kyle 45), Kilbane Unused Subs: Ingham, Butler

GOALS: Mansfield: Lawrence 11, Greenacre 48, White 87 Sunderland: Hutchison 90

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