Daryl Murphy scored his second pre-season goal and Jon Stead also bagged one as Sunderland beat Rotherham 2-0 last night.
Kelvin Davis and Julio Arca were both omitted from the squad as they discussed moves with interested parties, while Grant Leadbitter started the match alongside Dean Whitehead in midfield after signing a new two-year contract.
Sunderland were far from convincing in their performance, with Kyle and Murphy both guilty of missing a host of chances in the first half. Andy Welsh looked lively if not entirely effective down the left flank, while Ben Alnwik looked assured in goal as he made a series of comfortable saves.
The second half was a little better for Sunderland, and Murphy scored only 2 minutes in with a great strike from all of 25 yards.
However the Irish striker should have had another, first forcing Rotherham ‘keeper Montgomery into a smart save, then heading just wide of goal from a Liam Lawrence cross.
Substitute Jon Stead did double Sunderland’s lead however, on 70 minutes, when collecting a long Stephen Wright pass and firing confirdently past the hapless Montgomery.
A typical pre-season affair petered out, with caretaker boss Kevin Richardson using most of his substitues meaning the game rarely flowed and Sunderland looked anything but ready for the new season.
There is, of course, still plenty of time, but with a manager needing to be appointed and players to be bought and sold, Quinny needs to get a move on.
Sunderland: Alnwick (Carson), Nosworthy (Wright), D Collins, Caldwell (Cunningham), McCartney (N Collins), Lawrence (Delap), Leadbitter (Miller), Whitehead (Bassila), Welsh (D Smith), Murphy, Kyle (Stead).
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