New manager Simon Grayson was left pleased following Sunderland’s display in last night’s pre season friendly against Livingston.
Heading to the Almondvale Stadium as our pre season preparations ahead of the return to the Championship continue, the players took a three nil victory over the hosts with goals coming from Wahbi Khazri, Joel Asoro and Jeremain Lens.
🚀Watch @jeremainlens‘ screamer and all the other action from tonight’s 3-0 win over @LiviFCOfficial.
➡️ https://t.co/gKN5zZOo06 pic.twitter.com/Ntn80MdQjO
? Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) July 12, 2017
Livingston:
Alexander (Maley 75), Lithgow, Byrne (Trialist 75), Pittman, Mullen (Todorov 63), Jacobs, Mackin (Carrick 63), Knox (Mullin 46), De Vita (Peters 75), Halkett, Gallagher (Hamilton 75).
Substitutes:
Longridge.
Sunderland:
Mika, Jones (Lens 46), Galloway, Djilobodji, O`Shea, Love, Gibson, Rodwell, Ndong, Khazri, Gooch.
Sunderland after 60 mins:
Stryjek, Ledger, Beadling, Kone, Matthews, Cattermole, Embleton, Honeyman, Lens, Asoro, Maja.
Attendance: 1,119.
Referee: Steven Kirkland.
Speaking to the Official Site following the game, Grayson hailed a professional display from the players.
‘We`ve had a couple of days on the training pitch and we`ve worked hard, so you saw tonight that certain aspects were better but when it comes to certain things there`s still work to be done. You saw two different sides to the team tonight; you saw an experienced team who kept the ball a bit better and in the second-half you had that youthful exuberance as they ran forward and had a real zest in their play.’
The former Preston North End boss went on to say that keeping the clean sheet had also been a source of delight.
‘Overall it we had three goals which is nice for any game you`re involved in, and we also kept a clean sheet which is nice because you have to get into the habit of not conceding. We know plenty about Vito Mannone and we felt that tonight was an opportunity to see Mika for 60 minutes and Max Stryjek for 30 – they both did exactly what was required of them. I though Max showed a lot of good qualities after he came on and Mika did what was asked of him in a confident matter, but on Saturday we`ll change it around again and Vito will get some game time. It`s good to have that competition for places and to know you`ve got people to fall back on and rely on in different games.’
