PLAYER RATINGS: Sunderland 1-2 Leicester U21s - Here’s how the Lads rated after EFL Trophy defeat

Jon McLaughlin: 7/10

Was sharp off his line to scupper a few dangerous Leicester through balls and completely faultless for the two brilliant Leicester strikes that beat him.

Conor McLaughlin: 5/10

Was punished for his lack of initial aggression, leading to the penalty incident. Still looks inhibited and lacking in confidence when playing in red and white.

Alim Ozturk: 6/10

Looked rusty defensively, especially at the start, the Turkish stopper made up for it with some excellent clipped forward passes.

Tom Flanagan: 6/10

Switched off on a couple occasions when the young Foxes tried to get in behind the Sunderland backline, yet barring the odd blip Flanagan was solid.

Laurens De Bock: 5/10

Always looks a step slow pressing his opposite number, the Belgian was also guilty of gifting possession to Leicester in dangerous areas a few times.

Dylan McGeouch: 5/10

Embarrassed himself falling to create the space for Leicester’s second, capping an otherwise completely forgettable showing.

Grant Leadbitter: 5/10

The usual mix of occasionally inspired and maddeningly sloppy passing, our Makem midfielder also managed a flurry of crunching tackles when needed.

Chris Maguire: 7/10

Scored another peach of a free-kick that he won himself and linked up well with Marc McNulty in an otherwise miserable Sunderland attack.

Duncan Watmore: 4/10

Barely involved and ineffective in the few instances he had good possession in the Leicester half.

Marc McNulty: 8/10

Produced some marvelous first touches and laid on a series of excellent weighted through balls.

Benji Kimpioka: 4/10

Kimpioka’s game requires an element of risk-taking and calculated gambles, but the poor lad just couldn’t stop giving the ball away here, absolutely nothing came off for him in this potential showcase.

(SUB) Jordan Willis: 6/10

Had a quietly effective game, after replacing Ozturk.

(SUB) Aiden McGeady: 5/10

Failed to add the quality and creativity Sunderland were desperately missing in wide areas.

(SUB) Will Grigg: 5/10

Managed one decent flick round the corner to McNulty, but was otherwise well shackled by the Leicester back four.

Man of the Match

Marc McNulty