A WEEK away from the beginning of the season and Sunderland’s afternoon represented a mixed bag in Lancashire. A tale of two halves saw inevitably the Black Cats walk away with a defeat for the second game running. From a position of complete comfort, Sunderland were the masters of their own downfall and once again, Alex Neil has been given plenty to ponder ahead of their Championship opener against Coventry City.

The game wasn’t the typical pre-season affair. Sunderland were being made to stand up manfully to the task of a physical Accrington side who were offering them a stark reminder of the type of opponent they had frequently been up against in the last four years. Plenty of early sliding challenges and aerial battles settled the game into a quick tempo.

Patrick Roberts showed some ingenuity to side step his man on the right and bend a wonderful pass beyond Accrington to carve out a chance to Ross Stewart. However, he slid the ball wide of the left hand post.

Dan Ballard almost completed his best impression of Franz Beckenbauer just shy of the 20 minute mark as a surge run from deep was fed into him on the edge of the box but he could only bend his shot wide.

Sunderland began to find their rhythm and Lukas Jensen came to their rescue with an outstanding double save. First to deny Stewart with a low shot and then Clarke’s follow-up. The winger kept the attack alive with a low cross but Roberts managed to scoop the effort over the bar.

Alex Neil’s side were well into their grove at this point and Jensen was keeping things even. He was on hand to palm away Stewart’s flicked header at the front post. Dennis Cirkin was next to have a go but saw two shots from the edge of the box deflect wide of the post.

Heading into half-time, Sunderland had one last go when Roberts direct ball over the top fed the run of Clarke. As the winger drove into the box, Harvey Rodgers mistimed the sliding challenge, wiped out Clarke prompting referee Ross Joyce to point to the spot. This time, they weren’t to be denied by Jensen as Stewart sent the keeper the wrong way to hand them the lead. A comprehensive first half display.

The Northern Echo: Ross Stewart has a shot on goal against Accrington StanleyRoss Stewart has a shot on goal against Accrington Stanley

The Black Cats started the half as they meant to go on with Clarke causing havoc on the left. Cirkin’s through ball fed the run of the 21-year-old who jinked past one man but then saw his tame effort handled by Jensen.

The Accrington keeper continued to keep the score respectable palming away Pritchard’s free-kick before Bailey Wright’s volley from a corner was well handled by the Dane.

The only way Sunderland were going to concede was if it was going to be of their own volition. Just after the hour mark, Wright went from near hero to villain as he got caught with the ball along the back line by a combination of Sean McConville and Rhys Fenlon. Wright attempted to claw the ball back but bundled McConville to the floor inside the box. The man who did the hard work for Accrington stepped up and sent Anthony Patterson the wrong way.

Another dangerous moment for the away side saw Luke O’Nien’s short pass intercepted by Fenlon. Ballard brought him down but Accrington played advantage. Unfortunately for them , Fenlon took another tumble in the box that the referee failed to acknowledge.

Their position of comfort was well lost when a lost throw was flicked on into the six yard area. After an initial scramble, Korede Adedoyin slammed the ball home from close range to give the home side the lead for the first time in the game.

From there, Sunderland couldn’t rally themselves enough to get back into the game. They were caught up in one or two moments of frustration with a couple of off-the-ball altercations which summed up the second half. From a position of comfort, Neil’s side let the win slip away from them. Hartlepool United next on Monday before it all begins for real. Plenty still to do with seven days to go.