Sunderland's U21s' four-match unbeaten Premier League 2 came to a shuddering halt as they were beaten by Spurs at Eppleton. Graeme Murty's young Black Cats side fell behind early in the first half as Jude Soonsup-Bell put the visitors ahead, before Michael Spellman levelled shortly before half-time - only for a mistake from goalkeeper Matty Young to allow George Abbott to put Spurs back in front in injury-time at the end of the first period.

In the second half, Spurs took over with Abbott scoring his second and his side's third, and Will Lankshear made it 4-1 with a quarter-of an-hour remaining. Nectar Triantis pulled one back for the Wearsiders in the final five minutes but it was too little, too late, as Spurs maintained their perfect start with a seventh win in seven games.

Murty's starting XI included first-teamers Triantis and Jewison Bennette, along with Ellis Taylor who has been on the bench in the Championship several times this season. Sunderland made a promising start but Spurs went in front from their first real attack with only nine minutes on the clock.

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They broke forward from midfield and the ball was played to Yago Santiago inside the area on the left, he squared for Soonsup-Bell who delayed his shot until he had a clear sight of goal and his finish was cleared by defender Henry Fieldson, but not before it crossed the line. Matt Young saved from James Donley, while at the other end Spellman cut in from the right and sent a low shot straight at keeper Luca Gunter.

Ten minutes before the break, Harrison Jones teed up Spellman just inside the box but his shot was beaten away by Gunter with a defender completing the clearance. Keeper Young had a lucky escape five minutes before half-time when he tried to dribble around Lankshear and was caught in possession, the loose ball fell to Abbott and his shot was blocked by the Young on the edge of the area, and then when the ball eventually came to Brooklyn Lyons-Foster inside the area on the right, his shot was palmed clear by Young.

But Spellman levelled on 42 minutes, cutting inside from the right to beat full-back Charlie Sayers and then his low left-foot shot eluded the diving Gunter and went in off the foot of the right-hand post. Spurs regained the lead in the third minute of added time in the first half when they won a corner on the left and the ball was eventually worked to Abbott inside the box 12 yards out, and his tame shot somehow beat Young and found the bottom right-hand corner.

Sunderland were sloppy in the early stages of the second half and an offside flag came to their rescue when Soonsup-Bell had the ball in the net from close range, and a few minutes later the Black Cats again gave the ball away cheaply and this time Lankshear saw his shot saved when he should have scored. But Spurs did add a third goal in the 69th minute when Soonsup-Bell's shot from distance was saved by Young but he could only push the ball out as far as Abbott who made no mistake from close range.

And the visitors made it 4-1 in the 76th minute when a low cross came in from the left and Lankshead finished at the near post. Santiago hit the post for Spurs, and at the other end Bennette saw a shot tipped over the bar.

Sunderland pulled a goal back five minutes from time when Taylor headed against the bar and Triantis was there to nod home from a yard out.

Sunderland U21: Young, Taylor, Triantis, Fieldson, Pye, Burke (Watson 66), Middlemas (Bell 79), Spellman (Tuterov 79) Jones (Chiabi 79), Bennette, Gardiner. Sub not used: Richardson

Booked: Spellman, Burke

Tottenham Hotspur U21: Gunter, Lyons-Foster, Phillips, Dorrington, Sayers (Ashcroft 78), Craig (John 78), Soonsup-Bell, Abbott, Donley (Kyerematen 78), Santiago, Lankshear (Cassanova 90+3). Sub not used: Keeley

Booked: Donley, Abbott

Referee: John Mulligan (Carlisle)