It's never dull watching Sunderland is it? The Black cats put in a dominant display against Saudi Professional League leaders Al-Shabab.
A first-half strike from Amad Diallo gave the Wearsiders a 1-0 win in a feisty affair that looked to be heading for an early finish. The referee let a number of rash challenges go and that showed when the game flared up with just 13 minutes to play.
Substitute Lynden Gooch was asked to leave the field after an incident with an Al-Shabab counterpart. You can read all that and more in our key talking points below.
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Dismal coverage on the club's streaming platform
First things first, the club needs to consider reimbursing supporters who paid to watch the live stream of the game from Dubai. Even commentators Frankie Francis and Danny Collins were embarrassed by the state of what they were watching.
The cameraman didn't keep up with play, nor did they track the ball. To charge £7.50 for a warm-up game and fans not even get to see the action is incredibly insulting.
Supporters were already opposed to the fixture being played against Saudi Arabian opponents, with the fanbase having been vocal in their opposition to the Saudi takeover at local rivals Newcastle United. It did improve marginally as the first-half went on, but fans have every right to ask for a reimbursement.
Amad Diallo continues rich vein of form in front of goal
For those Sunderland supporters that were able to see the action, they'll have been pleased to see Amad Diallo continue his impressive run of form in front of goal. The Manchester United loanee has scored three goals in his last five appearances in the Championship, notching an assist for Ellis Simms in his last outing at Birmingham City.
The Ivorian showed great composure to open the scoring against Al-Shabab. He picked the ball up on the edge of the area, sold the goalkeeper a feint and then calmly lofted the ball over the keeper to give the Black Cats the lead.
It's a shame team-mate Simms wasn't able to replicate that coolness just minutes before the break. Diallo showed great composure and turn of pace to lose his marker inside the Black cats own half, drive forward and roll Simms in behind.
The Sunderland striker was through one-on-one but couldn't get his angles right and lofted the ball over the bar. It was an impressive 45 minutes from Diallo who seems to be going from strength to strength under Tony Mowbray.
Aji Alese back in the action but game too early for Ross Stewart and Dan Ballard
Sunderland defender Aji Alese started for the Black Cats against Al-Shabab for the first time since the 2-0 defeat against Blackburn Rovers. The former West Ham United defender has impressed for the Wearsiders when called upon this season, scoring an important goal on the road at Watford.
However, there was no place in either XI for Ross Stewart or Dan Ballard who are both recovering from injury. The Scottish striker has not featured since limping out of the warm-up against Middlesbrough in the Tees-Wear derby.
In truth, there were very few instances where Alese was called into action. Sunderland were solid at the back and limited their opponents to very little in terms of goal mouth action. Anthony Patterson didn't have a save to make in the first-half, bar a few routine gathers from crosses.
Dominant second-half display marred by off the ball fracas
The Sunderland head coach must have been wondering how his side weren't able to add more goals to their tally after a dominant second-half display. Substitutes Alex Pritchard, Jack Clarke and Leon Dajaku all going close for the Black Cats.
For the latter of the trio, the game would have been a good opportunity to make a statement and get some goals to his name. He missed a golden opportunity just after the hour mark to open his account, but fired a tame effort goal bound.
Alex Bass had to be alert to keep Sunderland's lead in tact, with a smart save to his right to deny an Al-Shabab forward from the edge of the area. With the game approaching a quiet climax, it burst into life out of the blue.
It looked as though the game was going to be called off when a fracas broke out. The game was a feisty affair with plenty of full blooded challenges.
With 13 minutes to go, Dennis Cirkin caught an Al-Shabab winger late, the referee awarding the Saudi side a free-kick despite Sunderland players thinking they'd won the ball. Lynden Gooch went to remonstrate with the referee but was met by an Al-Shabab player, who appeared to put his head into the face of Gooch.
The Sunderland defender didn't take lightly to that and the game flared up. Staff and directors were on the pitch attempting to diffuse the incident, with Gooch and the Al-Shabab player being withdrawn by their team with no red card awarded to either player.
A number of Black Cats players left the field of play and it looked like it was going to be called off early, only for Tony Mowbray to talk with officials and play later resuming.
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