U23s REPORT: SUNDERLAND 0-2 BURNLEY

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Dodgson at the double for Clarets in big Sunderland win

2022-03-22T11:57:12.030Z

U23s REPORT: SUNDERLAND 0-2 BURNLEY

Dodgson at the double for Clarets in big Sunderland win

2022-03-22T11:57:12.030Z

Dodgson at the double for Clarets in big Sunderland win

Full back Owen Dodgson was the hero of the night in the North East as Michael Jackson’s U23 side won 2-0 away at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light on Monday Night (March 21).

Dodgson – who made a first-team appearance as a substitute in the third round of the FA Cup earlier this year – struck twice in the second half to earn the Clarets a deserved first Premier League 2, Division 2 victory of 2022.

Ex-Manchester United man Dodgson and striker Joe McGlynn both returned to the starting 11 after last week’s defeat at Reading with Joel Connolly and Anthony Gomez Mancini dropping to the bench.

There were also returns to the matchday squad for Max Thompson and Rob Harker, named on the bench having been absent with injuries. Frontman Harker hadn’t featured since being forced off in the reverse fixture at the County Ground, Leyland back in August.

With no first-team fixture for two weeks, Sunderland fielded an experienced line-up that included ex-Wolves defender Danny Batth and former Blackpool loanee Eliot Embleton. Former Clarets youth Vinnie Steels was also on the home bench, and came on at half time.

First Half

On Wearside, the Black Cats had the first chance of the game on five minutes when young Burnley goalkeeper Sam Waller made a spectacular diving save to keep out a header from Sunderland’s trialist.

Eight minutes later, Waller then reacted well again to make a superb block one-on-one, this time denying an effort from the foot of former Bayern Munich forward Leon Dajaku.

And for a third time in the opening 20 minutes in the North East, Waller was involved again, in the right place at the right time to save Sam Wilding’s point-blank header with the Sunderland captain meeting Embleton’s floated cross.

Soon after, Lewis Richardson surged forward on a 30-yard run upfield, yielding Burnley’s best chance of the first half with a low driven shot which was comfortably held by German youth international goalkeeper Ron-Thorben Hoffmann.

U23s REPORT: SUNDERLAND 0-2 BURNLEY - Image 1

Second Half

The stadium of Light has a capacity of 49,000 and has staged three internationals. Indeed, Burnley’s Tom Heaton made his England debut on Wearside in a 2-1 win over Australia six years ago.

In front of a much smaller crowd, the Clarets had the first chance of the second half when centre back Dan Sassi went close from a Ne-Jai Tucker corner. Sassi’s header was well gathered by Hoffmann.

Striker Richardson then tried his luck from distance on 59 minutes, but Jackson’s side were in the ascendancy and would make it count just two minutes later with Dodgson grabbing his first goal of the season just two days after his 19th birthday.

A swift move upfield saw the ball at the feet of Richardson, and when the forward slipped teammate Dodgson in, the full back made no mistake with a powerful strike into the bottom corner.

There was then an emotional return for striker Harker when he entered the Stadium of Light pitch, replacing Scotsman McGlynn. The ex-Bury forward had been out of action for seven months, working tirelessly throughout to make his return.

And on 79 minutes, Dodgson was at the double to secure victory for the Clarets. Capitalising on a poor clearance from Hoffmann, the defender picked up the loose ball and drove into the box before oncemore firing past the former Champions League and Bundesliga winner for his second of a superb night in the North East.

With those three points, Jackson’s side rekindled their play-off hopes. Burnley remain tenth in the table and are seven points off fifth-placed Southampton with games in-hand on most of those above them.

The Clarets next return to action with a home game against Southampton on April 4 with the venue of that fixture still to be confirmed.

Sunderland: Hoffmann, Kachosa, Batth, Xhemajli, Dunne (Dyce 62’), Wilding, Scott, Dajaku, Embleton, Trialist, Kimpioka (Steels HT)

Unused Subs: Carney, Sohna, Jessup

Burnley: Waller: Armstrong, Sassi, Nartey, Dodgson: Costelloe, Helm, Woods, Tucker (Gomez Mancini 80’): McGlynn (Harker 74’), Richardson (Thompson 80’)

Unused Subs: Allen, Connolly

Goals: Dodgson, 61’ & 79’