SUNDERLAND were able to celebrate their first pre-season success as Lynden Gooch’s first-half header secured a 1-0 win at Grimsby Town.

Gooch converted Chris Maguire’s cross to hand Jack Ross his first victory as Sunderland boss, with the Black Cats producing an improved display from their two previous pre-season outings.

Gooch almost claimed a second goal in the closing stages, and while Ethan Robson was forced off with an injury midway through the second half, Ross will have been satisfied with his players’ efforts against League Two opposition.

The Sunderland boss made four changes from the side that started Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Hartlepool United, with the most notable omission seeing former skipper Lee Cattermole not included in the squad.

Cattermole was jeered from the field at Victoria Park, with some social media comments suggesting he may have been involved in an altercation with a supporter.

Last night’s back four was especially youthful, with academy products Brandon Taylor and Denver Hume joining Tom Flanagan and Donald Love.

Ross also named youngster Max Stryjek in goal, and the shot-stopper made an immediate impression as he left his line to claim a couple of crosses in dominant fashion.

Stryjek was called into action to make a save in the tenth minute, getting down well to keep out Harry Clifton’s low shot, and watched Jordan Cook float a free-kick narrowly wide of the upright moments later.

Sunderland’s attacking players struggled to get into their stride in the early stages, but it did not take long for them to begin to gain the upper hand.

Callum McManaman was their main threat on the right-hand side, and the winger made a number of dangerous first-half surges beyond his full-back in order to deliver a cross into the box.

There wasn’t always someone there to meet it, although Maguire toiled manfully as a central striker despite not really being ideally suited to the role.

Donald Love fired Sunderland’s first effort over the crossbar midway through the first half, but it was Maguire that proved the architect as the visitors claimed a 31st-minute lead.

The summer signing from Bury drifted towards the left in order to float a cross into the middle, and Gooch stole ahead of his marker on the edge of the six-yard box to direct a diving header beyond Grimsby goalkeeper James McKeown.

Sunderland should have had an opportunity to double their lead from the penalty spot six minutes before the break, but despite JJ Hooper clattering into McManaman after the Sunderland winger crossed from the edge of the area, the referee waved play on. McManaman was justifiably furious, with his cries from the touchline clearly audible.

The Black Cats remained unchanged for the start of the second half, and should have scored a second goal within six minutes of the restart.

Maguire delivered an inviting cross from the right, but an onrushing George Honeyman could only glance a header wide of the target.

Grimsby came close moments later, with Clifton drilling a first-time volley across the face of goal after the Sunderland defence was briefly caught napping, and there was a blow for the Black Cats shortly after the hour mark as Ethan Robson was forced off with what appeared to be a groin injury.

He was replaced by Bali Mumba, with Ross also bringing on Robbin Ruiter and Adam Matthews, and Sunderland’s replacement goalkeeper was called into immediate action as he flung himself to his right to keep out a goalbound effort from Jake Hessenthaler.

The Black Cats continued to attack though, and Gooch should really have set up substitute Josh Maja after breaking into the box with eight minutes left. Maja was completely unmarked, but Gooch went for goal instead and curled the ball beyond the far post.

Grimsby (5-4-1): McKeown (Russell 61); Whitmore (Davis 61), Collins (Whitmore 76), Famewo, Clifton (Dixon 61), M Rose (Hall-Johnson 61); Welsh (Trialist 61), Woolford (Trialist 61), Fox (Hessenthaler 61), Hooper (Robles 61); Cook (A Rose 61).

Sunderland (4-3-3): Stryjek (Ruiter 66); Love, Taylor, Flanagan, Hume (Matthews 66); Honeyman, McGeouch (Kimpioka 74), Robson (Mumba 59); McManaman (Maja 72), Maguire (Hackett 85), Gooch.