Sunderland got their pre-season games underway in fine style beating Darlington 1883 5-1.
Steven Fletcher showed that his instinct for goal is still with him as he hit a brace in the opening 20 minutes.
Poyet fielded a different side in each half so that he could assess as many of the squad as possible and Fletcher had the ball in the net twice early on.
His first was an easy tap-in, but the second goal was created by some neat exchanges of the ball before Fletcher fired home another relatively easy chance.
N`Diaye got involved in the third goal in his first game under the watchful eyes of Poyet and he made a good run before steering the ball to Wickham who int turn flicked it up for Giaccherini to make it three.
Then Wickham got on the score sheet when he lashed the ball home to make it 4-0.
The home side pulled a goal back due to Sunderland not being able to clear and when Wes Brown slipped, Gary Brown was soon in there to beat Pantilimon.
But fellow new signing Gomez rounded off the scoring with the best goal of the game to make it 5-1.
Sunderland now take on Carlisle on Tuesday.
Share this article
Related Articles
From what I heared you would have to have been worse than my gran to have missed either of Fletcher’s chances. But having said that he was in the right place at the right time and thats a good thing.