Fleetwood Town 2 Sunderland 1: Town top their EFL Trophy group thanks to Highbury victory

Goals from Barrie McKay and Mark Duffy saw the Cod Army battle back from a goal down to triumph in their final group clash.

A third successive group victory, against opponents who led through Callum McFadzean and who had scored 13 goals in their previous two group games, guaranteed Joey Barton’s side home advantage in the next stage.

McFadzean fired the Black Cats into an early lead with a clinical strike after Town were caught cold by a clever counter-attack.

However, the hosts were revitalised after the break with Swansea City loanee McKay slotting home from close range before veteran midfielder Duffy netted the winner on the hour.

Barton had kept his word and gave youth a chance with 10 changes to the side knocked out of the FA Cup on Saturday at Hull City.

Only defender Harrison Holgate kept his place in the starting line-up with Jordan Rossiter skipper for the evening.

Fleetwood had the first chance of the contest but James Hill’s weak header was easy for Anthony Patterson.

Not long afterwards, Sam Finley floated a cross into the box and Josh Morris saw his volley well saved by Patterson at his near post.

The Black Cats then came within a whisker of scoring, only for the crossbar to deny them.

A wicked delivery to the back post saw Oliver Younger head against the woodwork when he should have scored.

McFadzean latched onto the rebound but his follow-up shot was blocked.

It was McFadzean who made the breakthrough on the quarter-hour mark, rifling into the bottom left corner via the post.

Elliot Embleton went agonisingly close to doubling the visitors’ lead when his effort struck the outside of the left upright.

Sunderland hit the woodwork for the third time in the half when Embleton’s wicked free-kick saw Shayden Morris’ header clip the roof of the net.

The second minute of five minutes of first-half injury-time saw George Dobson strike a shot straight at Town keeper Alex Cairns.

Barton made one change at the break as Barry Baggley replaced Rossiter and Cairns took the captain’s armband.

Sunderland lost substitute Cieran Dunne, who popped his shoulder in a challenge with Shayden Morris having only been on the pitch for six minutes.

The change saw Sunderland switch off as McKay fired the home side level with a strike into the left corner.

Baggley blazed over from Shayden Morris’ cross before more good work resulted in Barton’s charges taking the lead when Duffy left Patterson wrongfooted as he coolly slotted into the bottom right corner.

It could have easily been 3-1 if Josh Morris had not seen a powerful shot charged down shortly after the hour mark.

Only the crossbar prevented McKay from scoring his second as his thunderous free-kick nearly killed off the contest.

There was still time for Shayden Morris to fire just over as Town came close to scoring again, but they deserved their victory.

Fleetwood Town: Cairns, Duffy (Boyle 86), J Morris, Rossiter (Baggley 45), McKay, Finley (Barratt 89), Smith, Holgate, Hill, Rydel, S Morris. Subs not used: Leutwiler, Hayes, Edwards.

Sunderland: Patterson; Willis, Taylor, Younger (Dunne 45, Steels 51), Diamond, McFadzean (Wilding 61), Dobson, Neil, Hawkes; Embleton, O’Brien. Subs not used: Wearne, Curry, Richardson, Almond.

Referee: Graham Salisbury.

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