Daniel Wales reports from the 1st Cloud Arena, as Sunderland began their pre-season campaign with a 0-4 victory over South Shields, as the Black Cats prepare for their return to the Premier League.
00:00It was all smiles for Wilson, Isidore and Sunderland as they began their pre-season with a 4-0 victory over fellow North East Outfit South Shields on Saturday afternoon.
00:15Well, overall, it was a relatively comfortable afternoon for Sunderland as they kick-started their pre-season.
00:21They fielded two different 11s in each 45-minute period and scored two goals in each half.
00:27They brought several thousand supporters the short distance here to South Shields who were rewarded with lots of sunshine and a good game of football.
00:35South Shields certainly had their moments in the game as well, but overall, Sunderland were clinical when they needed to be.
00:40Let's go back through the game now to see exactly how Sunderland got their pre-season underway with a victory.
00:46The first cloud arena, better known as Mariners Park, welcomed supporters of both North East clubs on what was a lovely day near to the coast.
00:58Sunderland supporters were still revelling in their side being promoted to the Premier League.
01:03Many were there to catch a close-up glimpse of their heroes who had fulfilled their dreams at Wembley just a few weeks ago.
01:10Head coach Regis Lebris watched on as his players prepared for their first outing since the victory at Wembley.
01:18And almost instantly, Sunderland picked up where they had left off, with Wilson Isidore scoring within the first minute to make it 1-0.
01:27South Shields did battle during the game and had the odd foray into Sunderland's final third,
01:32but ultimately the Premier League side showed their class when they needed to, with Romain Mundell scoring Sunderland's second just moments before half-time.
01:41In the second half, goals from Milan Aleksic and Ahmed Abdullahi wrapped things up with Regis Lebris reflecting on the day's work.
01:50We are in this period of the pre-season when volume is really important, so it was the case today and let's move up.
01:59Work in progress. I think we need to reinforce the squad.
02:03It's obvious because the next step will be massive and we need to reinforce the squad.
02:08So, only one played today and the next weeks we'll have one, two, three, four, five, progressively more players on the pitch.
02:19So, the connection will have to build this connection to build their physical condition as well.
02:25So, we need time to connect with the squad.
02:28Sunderland were also pleased to welcome back Niall Huggins, who has spent much of the last 18 months injured.
02:34Just to not put too much pressure on myself, I think. It's been a long time.
02:39The main thing, I think, for me was just to enjoy myself, to be back out playing.
02:43Obviously, you take it for granted when you are playing and you're fit.
02:47Obviously, it's been a long time. So, I think the main thing for me was just to enjoy it.
02:50I'm feeling good and I think this pre-season was big just to get back to feeling how I was two years ago.
02:56So, yeah.
02:57At the time I got fit, there wasn't any games or even with the youth team to get any games in because it was that far to the end of the season.
03:04So, I was unlucky in that sense.
03:06But, like I say, it was meant to be around the team, training and just feel as much a part of it as I could.
03:13And, obviously, I enjoyed the experience. It was a great day.
03:17The semi-farm was amazing.
03:19So, it was great to be a part of.
03:20Obviously, building over the off-season, come back in has been great as well.
03:25And from South Shield's perspective, their manager, Ian Watson, was pleased to have the opportunity to take on a Premier League opponent.
03:32Yeah, it's perfect. We get to see what the top teams look like and we get to see how we fare up against them as well.
03:40And, obviously, we had that really early setback with the goal.
03:42So, it was perfect for us to kind of see how we would react to it.
03:45And I was so proud of how the boys, the body language they showed as soon as that goal went in.
03:50It was like now we haven't got time to feel sorry for ourselves or anything like that.
03:54And we were right back to it.
03:55And I think we're trying to create an identity here.
03:57And the boys, you could see, they're really born into that.
03:59And they tried their very best to get it going as quick as what we possibly could.
04:03So, I'm really, really proud of the boys and I thought it was a perfect day for us.
04:06Well, that was Sunderland's pre-season firmly underway with what was a valuable workout in the summer sun here in South Tyneside.
04:14Next up for the Black Cats is a warm weather training camp in Portugal, which the players will be very much looking forward to.
04:20Although, it was, as mentioned, rather hot here on the coast.
04:25Sunderland know that they must get their preparations right for the Premier League
04:27because of the step-up in quality that they will experience playing in England's top flight.
04:32Today, though, was a good workout and valuable minutes for several players in the first team.
04:37Regis Labrice will certainly have been happy with what he saw as Sunderland got underway with a victory against South Shields.
