Huddersfield Town dump Sunderland out of Carabao Cup in damaging defeat for Black Cats’ second string

3 months ago

Daniel Wales reports from the Stadium of Light as Sunderland exit the Carabao Cup on penalties against League One side. Huddersfield Town, following a 1-1 draw in normal time.

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00:00After the high of their opening day victory in the Premier League, Sunderland's return

00:06to the Stadium of Light did not go as planned, as they were dumped out of the Carabao Cup

00:11by Huddersfield Town via a penalty shootout.

00:16This game certainly won't be remembered as a classic by any stretch, but for the Huddersfield

00:21Town supporters up in the Godson Wearside it will have been a night to remember.

00:26The League One side had been the more threatening in the first period, and were deserving of

00:30their lead at the break, with the hosts far too pedestrian in their build-up play.

00:35The second half did see Sunderland come to life, and eventually they brought themselves level.

00:40But such was Huddersfield's determination throughout the game, there was still the possibility of

00:45a sting in the tail for Regis Labrisa's second string, XI.

00:49And so it proved to be on penalties, with the Terriers progressing, thanks to their goalkeeper

00:54Lee Nicholls save in the shootout.

00:56Let's look back at the evening's event here at the Stadium of Light.

01:02It was Huddersfield who came out of the traps the fastest, and looked the more threatening

01:06in the early exchanges, and they were rewarded in the ninth minute when Leo Castledine hit

01:12the top corner with a volley after Sunderland failed to clear the initial corner.

01:18Sunderland were too predictable in their response, and Huddersfield were able to defend their goal

01:23with relative ease for the rest of the first period.

01:27Although in the second half the Black Cats did come on stronger thanks to a small tweak

01:32in their formation and tactics, and they drew themselves level with only a few minutes left

01:37of normal time thanks to striker Mark Gu. Neither side could find a winner during the lengthy

01:43stoppage time, and so it was straight to penalties at the Stadium of Light.

01:48And after Huddersfield had scored their sixth, Sunderland's Milan Aleksic saw his efforts saved

01:54by Lee Nicholls.

01:55With Sunderland's exit confirmed, Regis Labrisa could not hide his disappointment, but stopped

02:00short of criticising his second string, XI.

02:04We always wanted to win, and it wasn't the case at the end. The main purpose of the evening

02:12was to win, and we failed. So it's not the only learning, because I think, yes, we struggled

02:19a bit during the first half, because we need to test different options. On the pitch we had

02:28the many new players, so we have to experience in real conditions, and was the case this evening,

02:38one option. If it doesn't work, try another option. I think during the second half it was

02:43much better, and I think it's positive for the future, especially for Saturday. I think

02:49the energy was positive. Sometimes you can struggle, but if you can, you feel that they try, and obviously,

02:57the starting line-up was new, so you can't just decide, and it works perfectly from scratch,

03:08it doesn't work like that. Because I think Huddersfield played with desire, with intensity,

03:13they were well organised, scored a fantastic goal.

03:18In contrast, Huddersfield boss Lee Grant was full of superlatives, following his side's progression

03:24to the next round. Proud of the group, obviously. The whole group, so the ones that play, the ones

03:32that don't. The staff, the staff that were the quickest off the mark, when needed as well.

03:38Absolutely delighted, yeah. Yeah, we've talked about, on a few occasions, this golden thread we want to

03:44run through the whole squad, so that when we get an injury, or when we make changes, or when we rotate,

03:50for whatever reason that may be, that we can have a high level of performance from the whole group.

03:56It's fair to say that Sunderland's priority was always going to be the Premier League this season,

04:01and Reggie Slabrese probably won't lose too much sleep over the cup exit here, albeit he will have

04:07likely been disappointed with the performance of those he selected to play. From the players' perspective,

04:12their chances of breaking into Sunderland's first 11 will not have increased much after tonight,

04:19and that is perhaps where the real worries lie for the Black Cats. As for the victors, Huddersfield, well,

04:25they'll be hoping for another Premier League tie in the next round. Chance of K, Sera, Sera came from the away

04:31end. Slightly premature perhaps, but football is all about dreams. Back to trailing for Sunderland though,

04:38who welcome Brentford to the Stadium of Light in the league next.

Huddersfield Town dump Sunderland out of Carabao Cup in damaging defeat for Black Cats’ second string

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