Sunderland’s Stadium of Light dress rehearsal ended in defeat as Hitcham Faik’s stunning strike handed Heerenveen victory.
Faik’s goal just after the midway point of the second period was a rare moment of quality in a low-key game against the Dutch top flight side.
It was a second successive pre-season defeat for the Black Cats following their 1-0 reverse against Portuguese side Belenenses last weekend, and it was the third warm-up game in a row in which the Wearsiders have failed to scorer.
They did hit the woodwork in each half – through Conor McLaughlin in the first period and Elliot Embleton in the second – but that was as close as they came.
With a behind-closed doors game against Hartlepool United lined up on Monday, this was Sunderland’s penultimate friendly but Heerenveen will, on paper at least, be the toughest opposition Ross’ men face in their pre-season programme.
Ross included two of his new signings, Conor McLaughlin and Jordan Willis, in the starting XI and his two latest additions, Marc McNulty and George Dobson, came on as substitutes in the second half.
The first half was a tedious affair played at a slow tempo and with none of the intensity that Sunderland will encounter when their League One campaign gets under way against Oxford United on Wearside next weekend.
The best opportunity of the half fell to Sunderland from a set-piece just after the quarter-hour.
Grant Leadbitter’s corner was bundled goalwards by Conor McLaughlin but was kept out on the line by a Dutch defender, and when the ball fell back to McLaughlin his header hit the crossbar.
Aside from that, there were few chances for either side.
Mitchell van Bergan worked his way into the Sunderland penalty area and cut onto his right-foot, although his shot was comfortably dealy with by Jon McLaughlin.
And at the other end Benji Kimpioka brought a save out of Warner Hahn with a 30-yard effort.
The game livened up in the second half with Leadbitter seizing on a loose ball just outside the penalty area to drill a shot at goal, but Hahn made an excellent stop and his defence helped him out by clearing the loose ball.
At the other end, Daniel Hoegh headed just wide at the near post from a corner.
Elliot Embleton reached the byline on the left and cut the ball back for McNulty six yards out but his shot was blocked.
And the visitors went in front on 69 minutes when Hitcham Faik unleashed an unstoppable shot from 30 yards which left McLaughlin no chance as it flew into the top left-hand corner.
Will Grigg executed a neat turn and rifled a shot into the sidenetting from inside the box.
In the final 10 minutes. Sunderland hit the woodwork for the second time when Embleton’s free-kick from outside the right-hand corner of the box eluded everybody inside the penalty area and came back off the inside of the far post.
SUNDERLAND: J McLaughlin, C McLaughlin, Willis (Ozturk 87), Flanagan, Gooch (O’Nien 67), Leadbitter (Dobson 76), McGeouch (Power 83), Hume, Kimpioka (McNulty 55), Embleton, Grigg. Subs not used: Burge, Baldwin
HEERENVEEN: Hahn, Floranus, Hoegh (Skovgaard 59), Dresevic (Botman 46), Woudenberg, Kongolo (Ajujobi 78), Rienstra, Faik, Van Bergen, Odgaard, Bruijn (Van der Heide 51). Subs not used: Frederiksen, Bednarek, Doornbusch, Hajal, Ras
ATTENDANCE: 6,645
