Match Preview: Sunderland U21 vs Wolves U21
The Sunderland U21 team will face the Wolves U21 squad at the Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground on Monday evening, aiming to secure their second consecutive victory in the Premier League Cup.
Sunderland celebrated a 3-2 win against Huddersfield on Tuesday night in the Premier League Cup, earning their first three points in the group stage. Aaron Connolly scored twice, and Tom Watson added another goal to ensure the victory for The Black Cats.
The Wolves faced a tough match against Wrexham in the EFL trophy, suffering a 3-0 loss. They allowed goals from Lewis Brunt, Paul Mullin, and Mo Faal during the game.
The previous time Sunderland welcomed Wolves, they secured a convincing 4-1 victory against the guests at the Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground.
Wolves went ahead just before halftime with a goal from Nathan Fraser, but Sunderland made a remarkable comeback in the second half. They scored four goals, with contributions from Ben Middlemas, Watson, Timur Tuterov, and Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi, earning them the victory.
Last year, Sunderland managed to win both matches against Wolves, including a 2-1 victory in the away game. Watson and Marshall Burke scored for Sunderland, while Tawanda Chirewa netted the lone goal for Wolves.
Sunderland heads into the match with just one injury issue, as Jenson Jones had to leave the field early during the game against Huddersfield. Players like Connolly, Watson, and Abdoullah Ba, who have recently excelled for Sunderland's U21 team during the international break, might get a chance to join the first team as they prepare for their trip to Hull on Sunday.
The Wolves U21 team heads into this match after a two-week break without any injuries or suspensions. This gives head coach James Collins a completely healthy roster to choose from for the game on Monday night.
Choosing a standout player to keep an eye on from Sunderland's young talent this week is tough, especially if Connolly and Watson are likely to be included in the starting lineup.
Forward Samuel-Ogunsuyi is likely to be a key danger for The Black Cats. He has recently come back from the U19 Belgium team, where he played as a starter in a friendly match against France. In his latest outing for Sunderland before the international break, he scored two goals against Lyon, and he’ll aim to replicate that performance on Monday night.
When it comes to Wolves, Matthew Whittingham may be the player to watch. This attacking midfielder has played in all eight of Wolves' games this season, contributing two assists. If Wolves are aiming for a significant win against Sunderland on Monday night, he could be the key factor.
The match starts at 7 PM on Monday night, and a win could propel The Black Cats to the top of their group in the Premier League Cup.
