SUNDERLAND were punished for some second-half sloppiness as their pre-season preparations continued with a 2-2 draw at Hibernian.

Wahbi Khazri’s first-half volley gave the Black Cats the advantage in a friendly that served as a testimonial for Hibs’ long-serving defender Lewis Stevenson.

Jeremain Lens extended Sunderland’s lead in the second half, and with Kharzi and Lee Cattermole both hitting the woodwork, the visitors looked set for a comfortable win.

However, Hibs pulled a goal back when Martin Boyle beat Mika at the near post, and the hosts levelled four minutes later as Simon Murray converted David Gray’s low cross.

Sunderland opened their pre-season programme with a 3-2 win at Bury on Friday, and having scored two goals after coming off the substitutes’ bench at Gigg Lane, Josh Maja was rewarded with a place in the starting line-up at Easter Road.

Khazri was also promoted to the starting XI, and while it is widely expected the Tunisian midfielder will leave before the transfer window closes at the end of next month, Simon Grayson must be tempted to hold on to him given his qualities.

Having shone for half a season in the Premier League under Sam Allardyce, Khazri would be a major asset in the Championship, and he came within inches of breaking the deadlock in the fourth minute of today’s game.

Maja’s mazy run was halted when he was fouled on the edge of the area, and Khazri stepped up to curl in a free-kick that cannoned off the crossbar after deflecting off the Hibernian wall.

Khazri started on the left of Sunderland’s midfield, with George Honeyman occupying the opposite flank, and his counter-attacking runs caused Hibs a succession of problems.

His link-up play with Maja was especially effective, and he teed up his team-mate midway through the first half for a fierce low shot that was parried by Hibs goalkeeper Ofir Marciano.

Vito Mannone had also made his first save by that stage, claiming a long-range effort from the highly-rated John McGinn.

Mannone was called into action again shortly after, turning Danny Swanson’s cross-shot around the post after it evaded everyone in the penalty area and threatened to creep into the far corner.

Sunderland were lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Jack Rodwell the furthest advanced of the central midfielders, and the visitors forged a breakthrough two minutes before the break.

A searching cross-field ball picked out Billy Jones, and after the full-back crossed from close to the byline, Khazri hammered home a superb first-time finish as he broke into the box.

Simon Grayson changed his entire side at the interval, with the second-half witnessing Brendan Galloway’s first appearance in a Sunderland shirt following his loan move from Everton, and the return of Lens following his stint at Turkish side Fenerbahce.

Lens is something of a forgotten figure at the Stadium of Light, and like Khazri, there is every chance the Dutchman will leave before the transfer window closes.

However, like Khazri, he would be a huge asset in the Championship if he was to remain, and he doubled Sunderland’s lead with a neat finish ten minutes after the interval.

Rees Greenwood back-heeled Lynden Gooch’s ball into his path, and he swivelled neatly before drilling a crisp low finish into the bottom left-hand corner.

Lee Cattermole almost claimed a third goal moments later, but the skipper fired against the left-hand post after carving out a shooting opportunity on the edge of the box.

Hibernian didn’t threaten at all in the opening 20 minutes of the second half, but the hosts pulled a goal back from nowhere in the 69th minute thanks to some sloppy goalkeeping from Mika.

Boyle broke beyond Tom Beadling into the area, and despite Mika being in a decent position, the midfielder’s shot squeezed beyond the Sunderland goalkeeper at his near post.

Four minutes later, and Hibs were level, with Sunderland’s defence creaking to allow Murray to score from close range.

Full-back Gray delivered a low cross from the right, and Murray was afforded far too much space as he slid home from the edge of the six-yard box.

Sunderland’s second-half defending was markedly inferior to their performance before the break, and Hibs almost claimed a winner with six minutes left.

Oli Shaw wriggled into space in the area, but while his shot cannoned against both crossbar and post, the ball somehow stayed out.

Hibernian (4-4-2): Marciano; Gray (Martin 76), McGregor, Fontaine (Porteous 61), Stevenson (Crane 85); Bartley (F Murray 76), McGeouch (Pennnant 61), McGinn, Swanson (Graham 61); S Murray (Shaw 76), Boyle.

Sunderland First Half (4-2-3-1): Mannone; Love, Kone, Djilobodji, Jones; Gibson, Embleton; Honeyman, Rodwell, Khazri; Maja.

Sunderland Second Half (4-2-3-1): Mika; Matthews, O’Shea, Beadling, Galloway; Cattermole, Ndong; Lens, E Robson, Greenwood; Gooch.