The weather may have been slightly warmer than Germany, but the haggis was certainly no substitute for sausages and schnitzel as the ALS pre-season tourbus rolled into Killie.
With less than a month to go until the ‘big kick-off’ against Liverpool, it was yet another chance for the lads to gain match fitness and press claims for a first team spot.
That applied to no one more than Keiren Westwood, who started in goal ahead of Simon Mignolet, or Wes Brown, making his first appearance since his switch for Man United.
A first half goal from the in-form Sessegnon, coupled with Connor Wickham’s second half strike was enough to give us the win, although Kilmarnock’s Gary Hay takes the plaudits for goal of the game.
It was our second win of the pre-season campaign and another rung up the fitness ladder ahead of the start of the new season.
While Kilmarnock included the trialist triplets in their starting XI; our team lined-up like this…
Westwood;
Bardsley, Ferdinand, Brown, Richardson
Larsson, Catts (c), Vaughan, Steeeed;
Sess, Gyan
Unlike the Monchengladbach game, this time we made the brighter start against SPL/Mickey Mouse league side Kilmarnock.
Sess Baby looked hungry to add to his pre-season goal tally with a couple of half-decent efforts; while at the back, new boy Brown and co had very little to worry them.
A random fact you’re all probably well aware of anyway: if O’Shea was playing instead of Ferdinand, we would have sported an all ex-United back four.
As the game reached the half-hour mark, there was little in the way of action. Baby Jet Gyan going close on a couple of occasions, while Kilmarnock’s David Silva (no, not that David Silva, thankfully) looked the most likely to create something for the home side.
Somewhat worryingly, last year’s Player of the Season Phil Bardsley had to come off after picking up a knock, being replaced by Elmo before we’d even reached half time, although it appeared more a precaution than anything too serious.
The lively Sess got the goal he’d been looking for not long before the whistle, running past two defenders then coolly slotting home for his third goal of pre-season.
It stayed that way and we went in one goal to the good at the midway point at Rugby Park, with the Sess Baby/Baby Jet partnership looking like it was really starting to click.
We’d barely had time to return to our seats when Kilmarnock were awarded a free-kick. Our ‘he won’t score form this’ craic was naïve as Gary Hay curled it up and over the wall and past Westwood to level the scores.
The goal woke Sunderland from their slumber, and they began to carve out a few opportunities of their own – the clearest of these falling to Wes Brown from Larsson’s corner.
Steve Bruce then decided to ring the changes, with Louis Laing, Ji Dong-Won and Connor Wickham replacing Brown, Gyan and Steeeeeed. Ten minutes later it was Richardson and Catts making way, Colback and Gardner coming on and Ferdinand taking the armband, with Colback slotting in at left back.
Larsson and Gardner both showed glimpses of the reasons they were signed; Seb forcing a fingertip save from a free-kick, and Gardner also testing out the durability of Jaakoola’s gloves.
However, he couldn’t keep them out forever and it was Connor Wickham who was soon celebrating his first goal in a Sunderland shirt, tapping in after a good ball from Elmo.
That was the last of the meaningful action as we went on to claim a comfortable 2-1 victory. After that it was time to pile back on the ALS coach, next stop: Burnley on Saturday.
Final score: 2-1
ALS Man of the Match: Sessegnon – linked up well with Gyan, got himself on the scoresheet yet again and always looked like our biggest threat. A big season beckons for the man from Benin if he can keep this form going.
James Hunt
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