Sunderland hit by Scunthorpe

Big-spending Sunderland were stunned 1-0 by Coca-Cola Championship new boys Scunthorpe at Glanford Park in today’s friendly.

New £5million striker Michael Chopra started for the Black Cats, as did fellow recent arrival Dickson Etuhu, but Kieran Richardson did not feature for Roy Keane’s men.

Scunthorpe took the lead in only the second minute when Nyron Nosworthy’s poor attempted pass ricocheted off an opponent and dropped at the feet of Martin Paterson, who fired past Darren Ward.

Sunderland struggled to get back into the game, with Greg Halford’s close-range header straight at Joe Murphy the best they could muster in the opening half.

Although Daryl Murphy hit the outside of a post in the second period, it was the Iron who continued to look the most dangerous and they held on for a morale-boosting win.