Dundee United 0-2 Sunderland AFC
Sunderland AFC continued their pre-season schedule with a 2-0 victory at Dundee United on Saturday.
Patrick Roberts and Ross Stewart combined for the best opportunity of the first 45, but the latter’s effort was well-saved after an excellent through ball from the former Manchester City winger.
Alex Neil’s side opened the scoring following the restart, as Trai Hume’s first-time header found the net when Carljohan Eriksson’s punched a clearance straight towards the right back.
The goalkeeper’s day didn’t get much better, with Charlie Mulgrew’s back pass flying past him and rolling agonisingly out of his reach and into the net.
Alese came on to make his debut with 66 minutes on the clock, as he replaced Bailey Wright after the Australian made his first appearance of pre-season.
Sunderland will be back on action on Tuesday evening, travelling to Valley Parade to take on Bradford City.
After missing the midweek defeat to AS Roma in Portugal, Stewart returned to action at Tannadice Park and new signing Alese was named on the bench.
The Scotland international mustered the first attempt on goal in the Scottish sunshine, heading wide after incisive play from Dan Neil.
Former Black Cats boss Jack Ross took charge of his first game as Dundee United manager, as one-time Celtic man Roberts made a bright start on his return north of the border.
An excellent pass from the winger unleashed Stewart with 37 minutes played, but Eriksson did well to deny last season’s leading scorer.
The restart was greeted by a flurry of opportunities, as Alex Pritchard’s pinpoint delivery was headed at goal by Neil and saved before Stewart went close to converting from close range.
A vital intervention from Daniel Ballard followed at the other end, with the former Arsenal defender smashing a dangerous cross over his own goal from inside the six-yard box.
The Lads opened the scoring with 52 minutes on the clock, as Hume headed home after Eriksson came and failed to clear a Dennis Cirkin cross.
Archie Meekison forced Patterson into a decent save shortly after, but the advantage was doubled on the hour mark when Mulgrew’s long back pass evaded his own goalkeeper and rolled into the net.
Alese came on to make his debut in the stages that followed, as the Lads eased to victory ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Bradford City.
Dundee United: Eriksson, Smith, McMann, Mulgrew (Graham 75), Niskanen (Chalmers 75), Edwards, Sibbald (Freeman 60), Meekison (Clark 75), Harkes (Mochrie 85), Watt (Glass 75), Macleod (Cudjoe 57).
Subs not used: Adams, Watson, Duffy, Thomson.
Sunderland AFC: Patterson; Hume, Wright (Alese 66), Ballard, Cirkin; Evans, Neil; Roberts, Pritchard, Dajaku; Stewart (Diamond 66).
Subs not used: Carney, O’Nien, Matete, Winchester, Gooch, Embleton, Clarke, Batth, Sonha, Taylor.