Everton Under-23s were made to pay for missed opportunities as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland in the Premier League 2 on Friday afternoon.
In a competitive first half that produced no clear-cut chances at USM Finch Farm, Luke Garbutt threatened the goal with an angled shot from the corner of the penalty area that fizzed past James Talbot’s far post.
Joel Robles in the Everton goal remained a spectator for the majority of first half and the Toffees went close again 10 minutes before the interval when Harry Charsley beat his marker on the byline before stinging the palms of the goalkeeper from an acute angle.
Unsworth’s side began the second period in similar fashion to how they ended the first - on the front foot.
David Henen fired over after an eye-catching solo run, before Jose Baxter shot wide after being set up by the impressive Antony Evans.
Sunderland were struggling to retain possession or cause Everton’s defence problems but their own backline remained resolute.
A big chance for the hosts came 20 minutes from the end when Anton Donkor, who was introduced in the first half as manager David Unsworth changed the shape of his side, powered his way into the box, brushed off a challenge and dug out a cross but Sambou could only volley over while under pressure from four yards out.
Substitute Shayne Lavery went close to making an almost immediate impact late on, latching on to Beni Baningime’s ball over the top before forcing Talbot into making the only meaningful save of the contest.
Then came the hammer blow when, on a rare Sunderland attack, Luke Molyneux dribbled into the penalty area before slotting past Robles to give the Black Cats a shock lead with only five minutes remaining.
Captain Morgan Feeney headed over from a corner shortly afterwards, before heading narrowly wide from Garbutt’s cross in the dying seconds.
The Blues were left wondering how they didn’t take anything from the game at the final whistle, as attentions turned to a trip to Lincoln City in the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday (24 October).
Under-23s assistant manager John Ebbrell said: “We weren’t quite at our best but we felt we were by far the better team throughout. I felt if we could have scored early in the game we would have gone on to win comfortably but we didn’t.
“We missed opportunities and there was a little bit of anxiety creeping in in the second half as time ran out. They’ve scored with a sucker-punch late in the game but even after that we had a good opportunity to score at least once. We just couldn’t do it on the day.
“It’s a lesson for the lads to take their opportunities when they come around. We’ve spoken to them about having a winning mentality and being ruthless when they’re on top.
“It is a benefit that we get to play again on Tuesday, rather than waiting for a week for the next game.
“It is what it is - we’ve lost one game here today but we’ll make sure we rest and then get the boys fully prepared for the next one.”
Everton Under-23s: Joel, Charsley, Garbutt, Baningime, Feeney (c), Foulds, Evans, Adeniran (Donkor, 34), Sambou (Lavery, 70), Henen, Baxter (Broadhead, 70).
Unused substitutes: Gray, Markelo.
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