Gateshead 1-3 Sunderland player ratings as subs make an impact in pre-season

Sunderland ran out comfortable winners over non-league Gateshead after a solid second-half performance

The Black Cats made all the early running, and took the lead when Chris Maguire smashed home a free-kick following a great run by Denver Hume.

But sloppy play allowed the home side to win possession on the halfway line, and Preston fired past Lee Burge to level the scores.

Following a flurry of second-half substitutes, Sunderland took control, and a superb cross from Jack Diamond was headed home by Will Grigg.

He then turned provider, laying off Lynden Gooch's pass into the path of Josh Scowen, who stroked home with a first-team effort.

Here's James Hunter rated the Sunderland players.

LEE BURGE 7

One brilliant save to deny Olley an opening goal, and could do nothing about the equaliser

CONOR McLAUGHLIN 6

Steady on the right side of the back three

BAILEY WRIGHT 7

Solid and composed in the middle of the three-man back line, and brought a save out of the keeper with a header from a set-piece

TOM FLANAGAN 5

Did OK, but he lost possession in the run-up to the Gateshead equaliser

LUKE O’NIEN 6

Linked up well with Maguire down the right

GEORGE DOBSON 6

Neat and tidy in central midfield

GRANT LEADBITTER 6

Anchored the midfield

DENVER HUME 7

A couple of probing runs down the left, one of which brought the free-kick for the goal

CHRIS MAGUIRE 7

His excellent free-kick gave Sunderland the lead, and he almost set up Hume for a second

CHARLIE WYKE 6

Held the ball up well but didn’t get a sight of goal

ELLIOT EMBLETON 6

Lively on the left until injury cut short his afternoon before half-time

SUBS

DAN NEIL 7

For Embleton 39mins. Looked sharp when he replaced Embleton

ARBENIT XHEMAJLI 6

For Flanagan 46mins. Strong performance from the trialist at centre-back, and he hit the woodwork from a set-piece

MORGAN FEENEY 6

For Wright 61mins. New signing played in the middle of the back three and looked comfortable

JORDAN WILLIS 6

For McLaughlin 61mins. Good on the ball, and his pace was useful when Gateshead came forward

JACK DIAMOND 7

For O’Nien 61mins. Operated at wingback, and delivered a great cross for Grigg’s goal

JOSH SCOWEN 7

For Dobson 61mins. Covered a lot of ground in midfield, and scored Sunderland’s third goal

MAX POWER 6

For Leadbitter 61mins. Kept the midfield ticking over

LYNDEN GOOCH 6

For Hume 61mins. A threat from the left flank

AIDEN O’BRIEN 6

For Maguire 61mins. A decent showing on his first outing for the club, and he will get better

WILL GRIGG 7

For Wyke 61mins. Scored one goal and set one up for Scowen. Looked sharp and hungry

JAKE HACKETT 6

For Neil 83mins. Did OK in his brief outing