Sunderland's new Under-21s boss Graeme Murty has lifted the lid on his first week at the club after being appointed the head of professional development phase. The former Rangers boss named a strong XI of players to face Premier League 2 Division 2 leaders Leeds United with nine first team players in the mix.
The Black Cats' fringe players put in a solid enough performance but lacked an outlet and cutting edge in the final third. Amad Diallo, Leon Dajaku and Jewison Bennette acted as a front three and did have bright moments, but were unable to carve an opening at the Stadium of Light.
Murty said: "The game has been moved to the stadium, we've had numerous first team players dropped into it against top of the table who are playing really, really well - I loved it! I hope everything in terms of our preparation and how it goes off, does like it did today because as a football match I thought it was really good.
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"I thought it was exactly what the first team wanted when they got that amount of numbers dropped into the team. I'm really pleased with their application, disappointed with the result but I can't fault the way they went about their business."
The former Rangers boss held talks with Tony Mowbray about how the Sunderland boss likes his teams to play but gave the new man on Wearside the freedom to manage the game as he saw fit. Murty said: "He's wanted to leave me to find my feet and it was really interesting today when he said 'Don't worry about my thoughts, go and manage the game as you would normally manage the game. There are the minutes for the players if you can, but if you want to make changes tactically, go and make them. Go and be free and manage as you will, this is what I like.'
"I got an insight into how he likes his teams to play which is really, really nice to see and really open. I have to say, all of the staff have been that way so it's made the transition into the job really easy."
Sunderland didn't make any changes with Jacob Carney and Zak Johnson the only players from the youth sides featuring, with the first-team contingent playing the full 90 minutes. "Yeah, as long as they could get through it," Murty said when asked if that was always the plan. "The lads need minutes. We had the 21s ready to go on if they were needed if there were any issues.
"The idea when senior players drop in, is to give them as many minutes as they can handle and I thought they went about it properly and I thought actually, it was a good game of football.
"I've just said to them [Sunderland's Under-21 players], if the manager is going to drop senior players in again, your job now is to impress him that much on Friday that he thinks if your name when he looks at his team-sheet. If he comes to drop senior players in, then it's not in your position.
"That's the challenge they have and that's always what the challenge should be at a big club."
Murty took up the role at the Academy of Light earlier this week after John Hewitson had taken temporary charge of the position and management of the U21s side.
"You just look at the status of the club and you think it's something that appears to be on the up and you want to be a part of," the former Reading defender said. "You come and chat, you're asked to join and I can't help but be impressed by the aspirations and the facility. The academy is brilliant and I've been really welcomed by everyone.
"I've got no doubt I've forgotten so many people's names in conversation, but that's part of it when getting used to a new environment. Everyone has been really welcoming and I've been really pleased with how they've gone about everything."
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