A hat-trick from Duncan Watmore put the Blues to the sword as the Black Cats triumphed over Patrick Vieira’s men for the second time this season, meaning City have picked up just two points from their opening three league games.
Two penalties helped the home side to all three points at the Hetton Centre on a disappointing day for the visitors, which also saw U21 debutant Lukas Nmecha forced off with an injury.
Will Patching and Demeaco Duhaney also came off the bench for their first EDS appearances, while Billy O’Brien, Tosin Adarabioyo, James Horsfield and Aleix Garcia were handed their first league starts of the season.
City headed into the encounter eager to avenge August’s Premier League International Cup loss to the Black Cats but the away side started poorly and found themselves 2-0 down inside the first ten minutes.
The opener came from the spot after O’Brien brought down Lynden Gooch. The penalty was duly converted by Watmore into the roof of the net, although the City shot-stopper did get a hand to it.
Things worsened for City just six minutes later as Watmore doubled his side’s advantage and his personal tally, applying the finish at the second attempt after the visitors failed to clear.
With a mountain to climb, the Blues did respond well and tried to claw themselves back into the game. Thierry Ambrose forced Maksymilian Stryjek into a good save at his near post before Brandon Barker cut inside and fired over on the half-hour mark.
Skipper George Glendon then drove forward before finding Nmecha but the striker’s effort lacked pace.
The Blues almost found themselves three down and ruing their missed chances a minute later, as Watmore curled wide as he went in search of his hat-trick at the other end.
Ambrose then headed Bersant Celina’s delivery wide in what proved to be the last real action of the half, leaving City with much to do in the second 45.
After the break, the Blues continued where they left off as they sought a lifeline.
Stryjek was called into action again as Celina did well to feed Barker, who saw his shot well saved – but the hope of finding a route back into this one, as they had in their two previous league games, proved short-lived.
Five minutes after the restart, Sunderland were awarded another penalty when O’Brien clipped Watmore as he attempted to clear Adarabioyo’s poor backpass.
The midfielder stepped up for the opportunity to complete his hat-trick and he took it, despatching his second spot-kick of the game.
Healmost added a fourth but his lob was too high and 3-0 is how it stayed at the Hetton Centre on a day to forget to Vieira’s side. Next up for City is the visit of Middlesbrough to the Academy Stadium on Friday night (7pm). Ticket information for that encounter can be found here.
