LATICS 1 - 4 SUNDERLAND - Taylor back as young side go down fighting

LATICS ........................ 1
Cwyka 76

SUNDERLAND ............ 4
Stokes12, 41
Prica 45, 85

A young Latics team featuring a recovering Ryan Taylor as the only First Team regular, put in a battling display at Robin Park Arena, but ultimately lost out to more experienced visitors.

Maynor Figueroa and Rachid Bouaouzan were the only other two players from the First Team Squad to feature.

Taylor, back after just three weeks from a rib-muscle injury predicted to keep him out for much longer, stood out for Latics before being withdrawn twenty minutes into the second half.

After Latics went one down to an early Anthony Stokes strike, Taylor came close to equalising with two fierce shots and a trademark dipping free-kick, while his set piece delivery from corners and free-kicks were a constant threat; welcome news for Steve Bruce.

Two late goals in the first half from Stokes and Rade Prica gave the score a distorted look at the break but effectively killed the contest.

Sunderland, also featuring the likes of Liam Miller, Stephen Wright and Ian Harte, proved to be too strong in the end, despite a second half revival from Latics that saw Tomasz Cwyka being sent clear by substitute Craig Mahon to claw back the deficit, only for Prica to grab a second from a corner shortly afterwards.

LATICS: Saunders, Moore, Field, Ashworth, Figueroa, Taylor (Hampson 65), Montrose, Cwyka, Kupisz (Routledge 56), McCaughtrie, Bouaouzan (Mahon 45).
Subs not used: Horn, King