SUNDERLAND'S second string went down 2-1 at Bradford City in the penultimate pre-season friendly of the summer.

The Black Cats paid the price for a costly three-minute nightmare at the end of the first half when the Bantams scored a quickfire double, but Romaine Mundle got the goal he deserved in the second half for Sunderland.

Here's how the action played out and the talking points:

THE CHANGES LE BRIS PROMISED

Regis Le Bris had promised changes and made 11 but the vast majority of those brought in failed their audition and won't have played their way into the head coach's team for the game that matters a week on Saturday.

At least eight of the 11 starting spots for the Cardiff trip already look nailed down but this was an opportunity for fringe figures to stake their claim or at least give Le Bris something to think about.

Timothee Pembele, Zak Johnson, Leo Hjelde, who captained the side, and Joe Anderson made up the backline, with Elliot Embleton flanked by Chris Rigg and Adil Aouchiche in midfield.

Romaine Mundle and Abdoullah Ba were on the flanks, with Nazariy Rusyn leading the line.

Hemir, fresh from Le Bris admitting the striker is available for loan, was on a young bench, with Tommy Watson the other notable name.

THREE MINUTE NIGHTMARE

The damage was done in three nightmare minutes at the end of the first half.

While Sunderland had struggled to create anything meaningful in attack, they hadn't been troubled too much at the other end until Andy Cook cracked in the opener from the edge of the box five minutes before the break.

And just three minutes later, Cook's strike partner Calum Kavanagh - the son of former Sunderland midfielder Graham - was unmarked on the left side of the box with Pembele nowhere in sight and allowed to pick his spot.

Before the quickfire double, Sunderland had looked more likely to break the deadlock but lacked quality in the final third. Mundle was bright - we'll get to him later - but Rusyn was bullied and Ba struggled to make an impact in his first outing of the summer. 

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IMPROVED SECOND HALF

After creating next to nothing in the entirety of the opening period, Sunderland had three good chances in the first 10 minutes of the second half. After Rigg had a shot deflected wide, Embleton forced a good save out of home keeper Sam Walker, who then tipped over a goalbound Aouchiche strike moments later.

And it was Aouchiche who set Mundle away for the goal he deserved. The winger latched on to the lofted pass down the left, cut in and lashed into the bottom corner just before the midway point of the second half.

Sunderland never really threatened a leveller, though. Indeed, it was the hosts who looked more likely to score the game's fourth goal, with Neill Byrne going close.

MUNDLE CATCHES THE EYE 

There's no doubt about the Sunderland player who emerged with most credit: Mundle.

The left sider troubled Bradford right back Brad Halliday with his pace and trickery - and almost scored a stunning individual goal in the first half when he set off on a charge from his own half and was only stopped in his tracks by a foul on the edge of the area.

That followed an earlier effort when he cut in from the left and forced a smart save from Walker.

And his fast feet got Sunderland out of trouble in defence as well, Mundle weaving out of bother in one instance and turning defence to attack in an instant.

The goal he deserved was well taken. He took the ball on the run, cut inside and barely broke stride as he picked his spot in the bottom corner.

Mundle does, of course, have a problem - Jack Clarke. While one ex-Tottenham winger is at Sunderland, another will have to play second fiddle on the left flank. But all the January recruit can do is take his opportunities when they're presented and he certainly did that at Valley Parade.

DID ANYONE ELSE IMPRESS?

In flashes. Embleton started the game well, Aouchiche improved after the break, Hjelde wore the amband with composure at the back and Rigg relished the battle in midfield.

Of those players, who, realistically, is in with a shout of starting at Cardiff? Hjelde, depending on Alese's injury, and Rigg, who looks to be in competition with Alan Browne to join Dan Neil and Jobe Bellingham in midfield.

Sunderland are back at Valley Parade on Saturday and Le Bris' selection against Marseille will offer more clues and clarity ahead of the long trip to Wales.

Sunderland: Moore, Pembélé, Hjelde, Anderson (Crompton, 70), Johnson, Rigg (Jones, 70), Embleton, Ba (Watson, 70), Aouchiche, Mundle, Rusyn.

Subs: Chibueze, H.Jones, Hemir, Lavery, Middlemas