Will Grigg came off the bench to score the only goal as Sunderland made it three friendly wins out of three to complete their pre-season programme with a 100 per cent record.
Grigg struck five minutes from time against League Two newcomers Harrogate Town at the Stadium of Light, with teenager Dan Neil making an impact from the bench by providing the assist, as he continued his fine pre-season form.
Sunderland had earlier hit the woodwork through another sub, Aiden O’Brien, in a much-improved second-half display after a forgettable first period.
The Black Cats beat Gateshead last weekend and Carlisle United in midweek, and this victory means they will go into next Saturday’s first competitive game – against Hull City on Wearside in the first round of the Carabao Cup – in confident mood.
Against Harrogate, Phil Parkinson named what could well be the same starting XI that lines up against Tigers.
But the first period was a tepid affair in which Sunderland barely threatened, while at the other end Lee Burge had only a couple of routine saves to make.
Harrogate’s Will Smith headed over from a corner, and Burge easily fielded long-range efforts from George Thomson and Jack Muldoon.
As the first half wore on, Sunderland began to ask a few questions with Luke O’Nien delivering several dangerous crosses from the right flank.
On the half-hour, one of those crosses was claimed by Town keeper Joe Cracknell just before Charlie Wyke could apply the finish.
And a few minutes later, Hume raced into the box to meet another O’Nien cross on the volley, but his effort went high over the bar.
Sunderland’s best chance came five minutes before the break when Chris Maguire fed the ball to Lynden Gooch just inside the box, but Ryan Fallowfield slid in to make the block and divert it wide of the target.
A minute later, at the other end, it was Sunderland’s Tom Flanagan who made a goal-saving block to deny Muldoon from close range.
Then, just on the stroke of half-time, Smith headed wide from a Jon Stead cross.
Parkinson made a change at the break, with Conor McLaughlin replacing Jordan Willis with the latter appearing to have picked up a knock in the first half.
Sunderland dominated the second half and offered more of a goal threat than they had before the interval.
O’Nien saw a shot deflected straight at the keeper after good work from Hume and Wyke on the hour.
Gooch seized on a moment of confusion in the Harrogate defence and steered the ball past the keeper, only for Fallowfield to clear before it could reach the line.
And 20 minutes from time O’Brien hit the base of the right-hand post with a shot after Hume had picked him out inside the box with a cross.
Sunderland finally made the breakthrough five minutes from the end with a well-worked goal.
Flanagan won the ball in midfield and Hume brought it forward, he fed it forward to sub Dan Neil who released Grigg in the right-hand channel, and the striker slotted his finish beyond the keeper and into the bottom left-hand corner.
SUNDERLAND: Burge, Willis (McLaughlin 46), Wright, Flanagan, O’Nien, Power, Scowen (Dobson 75), Hume, Maguire (O’Brien 67), Wyke (Grigg 67), Gooch (Neil 78). Subs not used: Matthews, Feeney, Leadbitter, Diamond, Taylor
HARROGATE TOWN: Cracknell, Fallowfield, Burrell, Smith, Hall (Lokko 78), Thomson, Falkingham, Kerry (Kirby 70), Walker (Emmett 78), Stead (Beck 65), Muldoon (Kiernan 80). Subs not used: Trialist, Trialist
