Wigan 0 Sunderland 2

A Black Cats side featuring eight changes from the line-up that started Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Fleetwood Town was much too good for a Wigan team featuring nine changes of their own, with Johnson’s fringe performers embracing their moment in the limelight, as they had in their previous League Cup victories over Port Vale and Blackpool.

Niall Huggins’ energetic performance at right-back suggests he is ready to step in to replace Carl Winchester if required, while Frederik Alves’ composed showing at centre-half suggests Johnson should not be too worried if either Tom Flanagan or Callum Doyle succumb to injury.

Alex Pritchard was excellent in an attacking-midfield role, probing here, there and everywhere as he furthered his claims for a league recall, while Nathan Broadhead opened the scoring with his first goal in a Sunderland shirt as he showcased his ability to deputise for Ross Stewart if needed.

Broadhead’s goal separated the sides at the interval, with Luke O’Nien extending the Black Cats’ lead as he converted Huggins’ cross nine minutes into the second half. In truth, two goals was the absolute minimum Sunderland deserved, such was the extent of their superiority.

On Saturday, of course, they had tossed away a two-goal lead as they retreated into their shell in the closing stages at Fleetwood. Last night, with their continued dominance of possession meaning they did not feel the need to start defending on the edge of their own 18-yard box, they never looked like being pegged back.

As a result, they march on to round four of the League Cup, and while previous Sunderland sides have suffered as a result of fixture congestion as they have attempted to combine progress in the cup competitions with a successful promotion charge, Johnson’s squad looks to have the depth to be able to cope. If nothing else, another League Cup fixture will mean the bulk of last night’s side will get another opportunity to stretch their legs next month, potentially against Premier League opposition.

The strength of Sunderland’s squad was evident from the make-up of their starting line-up. Johnson made eight changes from the side that started the weekend draw with Fleetwood, but while that meant the promotion of a number of youngsters, most notably Huggins, Alves and Broadhead, the return of Lee Burge, Corry Evans and Aiden O’Brien meant there was still an experienced core to the Black Cats’ starting team.

The most notable name on the team sheet was that of Leon Dajaku, with the German winger making his Sunderland debut following his deadline-day loan move from Union Berlin. Dajaku started on the right-hand side, although he switched flanks with O’Brien on a number of occasions and arguably looked more comfortable on the left, where he was able to cut infield onto his more natural right foot.

With Broadhead stepping in to replace Ross Stewart as the central striker, Pritchard found himself deputising for Elliot Embleton in the free role behind the forward and the summer signing from Huddersfield was the brightest player on the pitch for much of the first half.

Wigan’s defenders found him hard to pick up as he drifted across the frontline, and as a result, it was no surprise to see him playing a role in Sunderland’s opener midway through the first half.

He had already seen an early 20-yard shot deflect narrowly over the crossbar when he picked up the ball close to the centre-circle in the 26th minute.

His threaded through ball was initially intended for O’Brien, but the Irishman realised he was in an offside position and intelligently checked his run, enabling Broadhead to break into the inside-left channel.

The Everton loanee cut inside his marker, and with a level of composure that belied his inexperience, the 23-year-old guided a precise low finish into the bottom right-hand corner. It was Broadhead’s first goal since joining Sunderland, and a fitting reward for his willingness to run the channels all evening.

Broadhead’s strike ensured the Black Cats would take a one-goal lead into the interval, but their advantage should probably have been even greater, such was the extent of their first-half dominance.

O’Brien flashed a 20-yard half-volley just wide of the upright moments before Broadhead scored, while Dajaku wasted a good opportunity for a Sunderland second five minutes before the break.

The German broke beyond the Wigan defence, but faced with the onrushing Ben Amos in the Wigan goal, he hesitated and turned infield, losing the opportunity to shoot. Pritchard went down as he tried to take control of Dajaku’s eventual square ball, but referee Leigh Doughty waved away Sunderland’s somewhat half-hearted penalty appeals.

Wigan boss Leam Richardson opted to rest former Sunderland duo Max Power and Charlie Wyke, but there was a reunion with Jordan Jones, who started on the left of the Latics’ attack having spent the second half of last season on loan at the Stadium of Light.

Jones was closely shackled by Huggins all night, and with Wigan striker Stephen Humphrys getting precious little change from either Alves or Bailey Wright, the hosts struggled to get anywhere near the Sunderland 18-yard box for long spells.

Burge was only called into action once before the interval, and even that was hardly a threatening moment as he held on to a long-range strike from Gavin Massey that thudded into his midriff.

Sunderland’s goalkeeper was no busier in the second period, with the visitors continuing to dominate possession and camp themselves in the Wigan half. A second goal always looked imminent, and it duly arrived nine minutes after the interval.

Huggins was the architect, breaking free on the overlap down the right via a one-two with Broadhead before squaring a perfectly-weighted ball into the middle for the onrushing O’Nien. The midfielder did not have to break his stride to receive possession, and stroked a side-footed first-time finish past Amos.

Wright blocked Curtis Tilt’s shot from inside the area as Wigan made a rare foray into Sunderland’s defensive third, while substitute Ross Stewart saw a shot deflected over at the other end after he twisted and turned in the box with 15 minutes remaining.

Had the game finished then, the visitors would have been more than satisfied, but as it was, there was something of a nasty sting in the tail as Huggins went down in obvious pain with ten minutes left.

The youngster received extensive treatment but was unable to continue, eventually hobbling off with the aid of two members of Sunderland’s medical staff with what appeared to be an ankle issue.

Johnson will hope the injury is not too serious as it was the only blemish on an otherwise thoroughly successful evening.