Sunderland 3 Chester City 0

Last updated : 24 August 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Sunderland made comfortable progress into the second round of the Carling Cup at the expense of last season's Conference champions in front of the lowest ever crowd at the Stadium of Light.

The tie attracted an attendance of only 11,450 despite Black Cats boss Mick McCarthy fielding his best available side.

At least the die hard fans who braved torrential rain in the first half were finally rewarded with an easy victory.

Sunderland, however, took 41 minutes to break down a stubborn Chester rearguard – and even then there was an element of good fortune.

John Oster's free-kick was flicked on by Marcus Stewart and Sean Hessey turned the ball into his own net.

The Black Cats though only had themselves to blame for not having the issue beyond doubt long before the break, poor finishing and a lack of quality with the final pass keeping the visitors in with a chance.

And had goalkeeper Thomas Myhre not made a brilliant save to deny Michael Branch in the 24th minute, a series of missed opportunities could have proved costly.

Goalkeeper Wayne Brown saved in style from Sean Thornton and Oster in the first five minutes, Julio Arca had a fierce drive blocked and skipper Gary Breen failed to hit the target with the goal at his mercy from a Thornton corner.

Kyle went around the keeper from a shrewd Thornton pass only to find the angle too tight and just before the breakthrough Branch should have at least tested Myhre when set up by Stewart Drummond.

Kyle and Arca went close before Kyle headed home Thornton's corner in the 54th minute and the Black Cats closed the game out in the 67th minute.

Thornton's deflected free-kick was parried out by Brown but only as far as Stephen Caldwell who fired into the net for his first goal for the club.