REVENGE for the Capital One Cup final? Not quite. In fact, not even close. But by beating Manchester City’s Under-21s at the Stadium of Light last night, Sunderland now find themselves just one win away from a first Wembley appearance since they lost to City’s senior side in 2014. And if they make it to the national stadium this season, there’ll be no Yaya Toure to break their hearts.

The Checkatrade Trophy might lack the lustre of the League Cup, with the presence of City’s youngsters in the last eight of the competition highlighting its cobbled-together nature, but a Wembley final is a Wembley final, and while supporters of other clubs might mock Sunderland’s interest in the competition, you won’t find too many Wearsiders complaining if they’re asked to descend on North London at the end of March.

Last night’s success makes that a strong possibility, with goals from Duncan Watmore and Lynden Gooch having taken Sunderland through to the last four.

As has been the case right through the competition, Jack Ross named a mix-and-match line-up, with the likes of Benji Kimpioka and Ethan Robson gaining some much-needed experience at the same time as Bryan Oviedo and Dylan McGeouch were reinforcing their first-team credentials.

McGeouch was the pick of the Sunderland team, with his neat passing and intelligent movement enabling him to control the heart of midfield. Watmore’s goal marked another notable stage in his rehabilitation, while Gooch’s clinical second-half strike enabled the American to draw a line under a somewhat shaky run of form. All in all then, a successful night.

For most of the season, Sunderland have had to juggle things around to accommodate the Checkatrade Trophy. Last night, however, the boot was on the other foot. Manchester City might boast a depth of talent that just about every other team in the country can only dream of, but even the Premier League champions can find themselves stretched.

Pep Guardiola’s decision to call Felix Nmecha and Eric Garcia into his squad for this evening’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg with Burton Albion was understandable given his side’s nine-goal lead from the first tie at the Emirates, but it meant last night’s Under-21 line-up was even more callow that it might otherwise have been.

City’s ten outfield players were all aged 19 or under, and even accounting for 21-year-old goalkeeper, Daniel Grimshaw, the average age of the visitors’ starting line-up was just a shade over 17-and-a-half. For once, this really was a case of men against boys.

The boys displayed plenty of talent – their set-up was a case of Manchester City-lite with the centre-halves splitting to receive possession from their goalkeeper and the wide attacking players hugging the touchline before cutting in towards the penalty area at pace – but Sunderland’s seasoned professionals always had too much nous for them.

Seventeen-year-old Tommy Doyle might be able to strut his stuff as he likes at academy level, but he received a footballing lesson in the dark arts when his attempts to break forward in the early stages were halted by a typically ‘competitive’ challenge from Lee Cattermole. Perhaps no teenager should be allowed to progress to senior status without having been ‘Cattermolled’ at least once.

While Sunderland’s skipper was booked for the foul, at least he ensured the right tone had been set. With a Wembley final in touching distance, this was a night that demanded a professional approach. Cattermole, the supreme competitor, was never going to be found wanting.

His team-mates were equally focused, and while Luke O’Nien narrowly failed to get on the end of Adam Matthews’ early cross from the right, Sunderland dominated from the outset.

Both Matthews and Oviedo enjoyed plenty of joy against City’s inexperienced full-backs, and with Chris Maguire playing in a free role behind Watmore and Kimpioka, there was a pleasing fluidity to the hosts’ attacking.

That paid dividends midway through the first half as they claimed the lead. McGeouch played an intricate one-two with Kimpioka, and while his shot from inside the area was blocked, the ball fell invitingly for Watmore.

The injury-plagued forward’s last senior goal had come in a 3-0 win over Norwich City back in April 2016 – the days of Sam Allardyce’s Great Escape – but there was no sign of rustiness as he drilled a crisp finish into the bottom left-hand corner.

Watmore almost added a second five minutes later, but having shown a smart turn of speed to create space on the edge of the box, City goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw claimed his rising drive at the second attempt.

Grimshaw once saved four penalties in a UEFA Youth League game against Inter Milan, but he was grasping at air 13 minutes before the interval, only for Oviedo’s free-kick to thud against the crossbar.

City’s first-half attacking consistently broke down before the 18-yard box, with Paul Harsley’s youngsters displaying a reluctance to shoot that seems to be prevalent within a number of academy set-ups.

Nabil Touaizi bucked the trend when he dragged a long-range shot wide of the target eight minutes into the second half, but while the visitors were extremely comfortable in possession, far too many of their passes went sideways or backwards without achieving anything.

Sunderland’s attacking was always more purposeful, and they almost doubled their advantage shortly before the hour mark. Watmore laid the ball off to O’Nien, who was stationed in midfield rather than at full-back, and his 22-yard drive whistled narrowly wide of the post.

That was Watmore’s final involvement before he was withdrawn – Jack Ross’ patient handling of the former England Under-21 international continues – and it only took his replacement, Gooch, five minutes to make his mark.

Matthews played the ball into his feet, and after cutting inside from the right-hand side, Gooch curled a crisp low finish beyond Grimshaw’s right hand.

He almost scored again two minutes later, only for Grimshaw to grab his low shot at the second attempt, and the City goalkeeper also made a fine late save to deny Kimpioka.