U21 report | Wolves 1-2 Sunderland

Wolves 1 (Chirewa 69) Sunderland 2 (Watson 4, Burke 81)

Sunderland inflicted a first Premier League 2 defeat of 2024 on Wolves under-21s with victory on Monday evening.

Tom Watson opened the scoring for the Black Cats early on at Aggborough, before the Old Gold responded through Tawanda Chirewa’s leveller with 21 minutes remaining.

However, it was Graeme Murty’s side who went home with maximum points after Marshall Burke struck what proved to be the winner in the 81^st minute.

The visitors made a dream start to the game and were ahead inside just four minutes. Michael Spellman received the ball on the right-hand side and had the awareness to cut back to Watson who swept the ball past Jimmy Storer and into the corner.

Wolves responded positively and after Matty Whittingham fired over following a well-worked move, Noha Lemina showed his pace with a break down the left-hand side and cross that couldn’t quite find Nathan Fraser in the middle.

The visitors came close to doubling their advantage as the half-time interval approached, but Watson headed inches wide after Thomas Lavery had got to the byline and crossed.

Half-time | Wolves 0-1 Sunderland

Jimmy Storer did well to prevent a second Sunderland goal, making a diving save from Caden Kelly to ensure the Old Gold remained in the game.

Ty Barnett was unlucky with an effort that saw him pick up a second ball from a corner before flashing just wide at the near post.

At the other end, Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi gave James Collins’ side an almighty let-off as he headed wide at the back post just moments before the leveller – and it came courtesy of Chirewa’s left boot.

The attacking midfielder was picked out from a corner kick and had the time and space to take a touch onto his left before he fired in a low attempt from the edge of the box that nestled into the corner of Adam Richardson’s goal.

Tawanda Chirewa brings us level #PL2 pic.twitter.com/USQUrYcqNQ

— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) April 8, 2024

However, nine minutes from time, Sunderland delivered the killer blow and game-defining moment which secured them all three points. After initially losing possession in their own half, Wolves did well to thwart a first effort, however the ball rolled to Burke just outside the box and he kept his head down and struck a driven effort past Storer.

Full-time | Wolves 1-2 Sunderland

COMING UP

Wolves under-21s travel to face Tottenham Hotspur in their final away game of the regular season next Monday.

NEXT FIVE

• 15/04 Tottenham (A)
• 29/04 Brighton (H)

TEAMS

Wolves | Storer, Ojinnaka, Keto-Diyawa, Griffiths (Rees 27), Mabete (Birtwistle 70), Pond, Chirewa, Whittingham (Holman 70), Fraser, Barnett, N. Lemina (Edozie 78).

Subs not used | Lopes.

Sunderland | Richardson, Lavery (Jones 87), Bainbridge, Middlemas, Bell, Fieldson, Spellman (Tuterov 75), Jones, Ogunsuyi (Ryder 90+1), Kelly (Burke 76), Watson.

Subs not used | Metcalf.