John Hewitson has praised the endeavours of Sunderland's U21s after they suffered defeat in the opening game of their pre-season tour in America. The Black Cats youngsters were beaten 3-0 by the New Brunswick All-Stars at the Croix-Bleue Medavie Stadium.
Sunderland will face Toronto II later this evening as part of their Canada tour continues before ending their trip with a double header against Montreal. Hewitson, who is overseeing the group on their tour, told safc.com: "We had plenty of the ball on Friday evening, but we lacked a cutting edge and were punished on the counter-attack.
“A young group has travelled and New Brunswick’s physical advantage also played a part, particularly as time wore on, and we also faced an unfamiliar style of play that we wouldn’t typically see in England. We then travelled to Toronto on Friday and were able to use Toronto FC’s training ground, which was a fantastic experience for the players.
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“There were some familiar faces up on the walls, including Jozy Altidore and Jermain Defoe, which made them feel at home – and it was great to utilise what is a great facility. Next up we will play an experienced Toronto II side at the Mosaic Stadium in Regina on Wednesday evening and over 5,000 fans are expected to attend.
“It will be another tough challenge for the players, but they are excited to face it.”
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