Sunderland U21 4-2 Blackburn U21: Black Cats make it to PL Cup final

The Black Cats made it to the Premier League Cup final after beating Blackburn at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday.

An early goal from Joseph Edgham for the visitors was quickly levelled by Jack Whittaker, before a flurry of goals from both sides through Jaydon Jones, Brandon Howell and then Harrison Jones saw Sunderland narrowly ahead at the interval.

The Black Cats cemented their place in the final with Whittaker’s second to see themselves into the final with Burnley.

There were starts for first-team players Milan Aleksić and Ahmed Abdullahi, while Harrison Jones, who is heavily rumoured with a departure from Wearside, captained the side.

Blackburn took the lead only three minutes in, when a driven cross from Howell allowed Edgham to slot it home a yard out with keeper Joe Cowan left stranded as he tried to block the cross.

Sunderland levelled the game in style following on from a period of dominance from the visitors.

Jaydon Jones’ defence-splitting ball to Harrison Jones found the Black Cats behind the midfield and onto an isolated Rovers defence, before Harrison Jones’ through ball found Whittaker in on goal and he slotted it past Jack Barret with great composure.

The Black Cats took the lead shortly after, as Aleksić’s wicked cross found Jaydon Jones inside the six-yard box unmarked and he hit it into the roof of the net with the keeper out of position as he attempted to gather the ball.

Yet, Gregory Vignal’s side hit back five minutes later. Jayden Sergeant’s darting run to the by-line created space inside the box and his driven cut-back hit Finlay Holcroft redirecting it towards goal. Cowan managed to save it, but the rebound fell straight to the feet of Howden to level the game.

Sunderland got themselves ahead through Harrison Jones. Geragusian’s ball found Aleksić in space, and he darted past the oncoming tackle only to be stopped by the leg of Barret. The save fell straight to Harrison Jones, whose first-time strike managed to beat the retreating defenders on the line to earn Sunderland a slender lead five minutes before half time.

The visitors started the second half much like they did the first, pinning Sunderland in their own half and it almost earned them a leveller through Howell – but his curling effort from a tight angle was wide of the target.

Abdullahi almost extended Sunderland’s lead, when a loose back pass from Rovers saw him through on goal, but the recovering Michael Decandia managed to slide in to beat the oncoming striker.

Sunderland got their fourth with 15 minutes still to play, as a whipped ball from Abdullahi gave Tom Proctor space on the flank, whose driven cross beat Geragusian and Barret at the front post and found Whittaker, who tapped it into the empty net.

Post-match, I spoke to Lead Coach Graeme Murty: