Match Details
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Gateshead
Sunderland U21s
Gateshead return to Gateshead International Stadium for the first time ahead of the 2023/24 season to take on neighbours Sunderland on Saturday, July 8 (4pm kick off).
The Heed opened their pre-season schedule with a 1-0 win at Hebburn Town on Tuesday, with new arrivals Aidan Rutledge, Jordan Hunter and Regan Booty making their first appearances in black and white.
This fixture will see Sunderland visit Gateshead International Stadium for the first time in front of supporters since 2014, when the Wearsiders emerged 3-1 winners.
The two sides did meet in pre-season ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, with a 60-minute training game ending 2-0 in Sunderland’s favour at the Academy of Light.
Current Gateshead men Kenton Richardson, Jordan Hunter and Stephen Wearne could all line up against their former club on Saturday after appearing at Hebburn in midweek.
Tony Mowbray’s side are set to open their pre-season schedule with a double header, taking on South Shields at 12:30pm before making the short trip to Tyneside, and will split their first team squad across both fixtures.
Heed View
“On the field, we want the biggest tests we can,” said player-manager, Mike Williamson.
“The lads will be thriving on playing against Sunderland again, in front of a really healthy crowd.
“The way we’re going to approach the league is the way we want to approach these games, there’s no difference about it.”
Opposition View
“We’ll just mix the teams up, and for us it’s about the fitness,” said Sunderland manager, Tony Mowbray.
“There will be some pretty inexperienced footballers playing alongside some players who have had lots of football last year, and the staff will watch both games.
“It’s really to get minutes into the lads and help the local teams to get their seasons prepared in front of a crowd, and we’re looking forward to them.”
Team News
Elliot Forbes and Lewis Knight are both unavailable as they continue their rehabilitation programs.
Supporter Guide
Follow this link for an in-depth supporter guide ahead of Saturday’s fixture.
Ticketing Information
This is an all-ticket fixture, meaning no tickets will be sold on the gate at Gateshead International Stadium.
Tickets can be purchased online here, with admission priced at:
Adult: £15
Concession (Over 65s, Blue Light & Armed Forces (serving or veteran)): £10
17 & Under: £5
Carer: Free (proof of entitlement required)
Tickets purchased online are not posted to supporters and must be either printed at home or shown via smartphone upon entry.
Goals from Connor Pani and Adam Campbell weren’t enough for Gateshead to win their second game of pre-season as Sunderland managed to come back to win 3-2.
Gateshead broke the deadlock in the 21st minute when Pani whipped a long-shot into the far corner. Campbell also scored from distance in the 23rd minute to double the Heed’s advantage.
The visitors reduced the deficit when Luke O’Nein drilled home a goal in the 39th minute. The Black Cats scored their second goal of the game in the 65th minute from academy prospect Nial Huggins.
Sunderland completed the comeback in the 81st minute. Michael Spellman followed up on a block by the Gateshead defence to score from five yards.
Mike Williamson named new arrivals Jordan Hunter and Aidan Rutledge in the starting XI. Archie Mair was named on the Gateshead bench after just recently being announced as the latest addition to the Heed squad.
In the 11th minute Gateshead came close to taking the lead and had a chance for a penalty. Stephen Wearne played a low cross towards the back-post which Jordan Hunter controlled before being brought down by a Sunderland man but referee David Webb waved away shouts of a penalty.
Gateshead opened the scoring from a long-ranged goal from Pani in the 21st minute. Hunter drove forward before he played a diagonal pass to Pani who cut inside before he curled the ball into the top-corner from just outside the box.
Gateshead doubled their advantage two minutes later from Campbell. The Gateshead attacker looked up and tried his luck from 24-yards which his effort found the top corner.
Sunderland pulled one back in the 39th minute via Neil. Alex Pritchard drilled a low-cross which nobody could get on the end of, before Neil unleashed a shot from just inside the box.
Sunderland came close to leveling in the 49th minute through Jewison Bennette. The Costa Rican winger tried to shoot across Mair but the Heed keeper came out on top.
Sunderland got their second of the game from Nial Huggins. Patrick Roberts managed to find Callum Wilson on the wing who then played a pass into Huggins who converted with confidence in the 65th minute.
Sunderland completed the comeback in the 81st minute. Wilson’s shot was blocked by the Heed defence but Michael Spellman followed up to score with an easy finish.
Gateshead (first half): Trialist, Tinkler, Trialist, Richardson, Francis, Booty, Hunter, Pani, Wearne, Campbell, Rutledge.
Gateshead (second half): Mair, Storey, Richardson (Magnay, 69′), Trialist, Francis (Hasani, 69′), Whelan, Booty (Trialist, 69′), Wearne (Thompson, 69′), Campbell, Dinanga, Allan.
Goals: Pani (21’), Campbell (23’)
Sunderland: Bass (Richardson 63), Hume (Fieldson 63), Johnson (Whittaker 78), Ballard (Wilson 63), Anderson (Spellman 73), Huggins (Bainbridge 73), Neil (Bell 78), Jobe (Chiabi 78), Roberts (Robertson 73), Pritchard (Tutierov 78), Bennette (Thompson 63).
Goals: Neil (39’), Huggins (65’), Spellman (81’)
Attendance: 5,031 (3,566 away)
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