Manchester City Res 1, Sunderland Res 0

Apr 16 2008 by The Journal

ROSS Wallace returned to action for Sunderland’s reserves last night as an experienced Black Cats side went down at Manchester City.

The 22-year-old Scottish winger, transfer-listed by Roy Keane earlier this year, has been rehabilitating from a knee ligament injury that’s kept him out of action for more than three months.

Wallace came through 60 minutes as Sunderland were beaten by an 88th-minute clincher. Mexican midfielder Nery Castillo grabbed the late winner after good work down the right-wing by City substitute Ashley Grimes.

The young midfielder did well down the right to work it across the box and cross for Castillo, who had a simple tap-in.

It was a disappointing end for Sunderland, who enjoyed a lot of the possession in large parts of the Premier Reserve League North fixture against a strong City side that also included Brazilian striker Geovanni, Ecuadorian Felipe Caicedo and Bulgarian striker Valeri Bojinov.

Irish striker Anthony Stokes – one of six first-team players in a strong Sunderland side also containing Wallace, Marton Fulop, Stephen Wright, Ian Harte, Grant Leadbitter and Danny Higginbotham – had a first-half goal disallowed.

But there was little else created in the way of clear-cut chances and City stepped up a gear in the last 10 minutes of the game.

Coach Neil Bailey said: “We should have seen the game out, to lose it 1-0 after dominating large periods was very disappointing.”

SUNDERLAND: Fulop, Wright, Harte, Leadbitter, M’voto, Higginbotham, J Richardson, Chandler (Cook, 65), Stokes, Dennehy, Wallace (Donoghue, 60). Subs (not used): Hunter; Pelter, Reed.

MANCHESTER CITY: Isaksson, Obeng, Williamson, Marshall, McDonald, Clayton, Castillo, Geovanni, Caicedo, Bojinov (Grimes, 60), Moore. Subs (not used): Martin, Daly; Breen, Cunningham.

Referee: D Richardson.