DONCASTER ROVERS 2 SUNDERLAND 0

JEREMAIN LENS impressed on his first Sunderland appearance, but the Dutchman’s bright display was insufficient to prevent the Black Cats slipping to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of League One side Doncaster Rovers.

Lens made a series of eye-catching surges and went close with a second-half effort that was tipped around the post as his pace repeatedly troubled the Doncaster defence.

However, despite Dick Advocaat naming a strong line-up at the Keepmoat Stadium, some poor defending saw the Black Cats slip to their third pre-season defeat.

Cedric Evina and Harry Forrester scored a goal in each half to hand Doncaster victory, with Sunderland having just one more pre-season outing at Hannover on Saturday ahead of their Premier League opener at Leicester.

Lens made his first Sunderland appearance following his £8m switch from Dynamo Kiev, with Sebastian Coates also starting after turning his loan move from Liverpool into a permanent transfer earlier in the summer.

Lens started on the right-hand side of a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Adam Johnson afforded a free role behind lone striker Steven Fletcher and Jermain Defoe lining up on the left.

The Northern Echo:

Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat during the Pre-Season Friendly match at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster. Picture: Tim Goode/PA Wire

Sunderland had won their only other pre-season game on English soil – against Darlington at Bishop Auckland – but they almost made a farcical start to their latest game with Patrick van Aanholt slicing the ball against his own post in the eighth minute.

Aaron Taylor-Sinclair crossed from the left-hand side, and after making a complete hash of his attempted clearance, van Aanholt was fortunate to see the ball loop against the right-hand upright with goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon completely beaten.

Doncaster are preparing for the new season in League One, but Paul Dickov’s side caused Sunderland plenty of early problems, and claimed a deserved lead in the 15th minute.

Luke McCullough crossed from the right-hand side, and Evina was completely unmarked as he drilled home a superb first-time volley. Billy Jones should have been marking the winger, but was nowhere near close enough as Evina powered an excellent effort past Pantilimon.

Sunderland had to wait until midway through the first half for their opening effort, and even that was a tame affair with Johnson blazing over from 25 yards.

Johnson went closer five minutes later, but after breaking successfully into the penalty area, the England international scuffed his effort at goal, enabling the back-tracking Andy Butler to hack the ball clear.

Johnson and Lens swapped positions throughout the first half, and the latter displayed enough pace and creativity to suggest he will be an important addition to Sunderland’s squad.

His best moment came shortly before the interval as he darted past two defenders cutting in from the left-hand side, only for his low strike to deflect narrowly wide of the target.

The Black Cats ended the opening period strongly, and Defoe should have levelled when he side-footed the ball towards goal following a cut-back from Fletcher. His strike did not have enough purchase on it, however, and Rob Jones somehow managed to hook to safety over his own crossbar.

Advocaat made four changes at the interval, bringing on Younes Kaboul, Seb Larsson, Emanuele Giaccherini and Danny Graham, and Giaccherini went close three minutes after the break as he latched on to a loose clearance and drilled a rising drive over the crossbar.

Graham tested Thorsten Stuckmann with a crisp first-time effort shortly before the hour mark, but while Larsson also went close with a free-kick that sailed narrowly over the top, Sunderland fell two goals behind in the 60th minute.

Again, the concession was largely of their own making, with Jack Rodwell this time the player at fault. The midfielder’s attempted clearance from inside his own area was charged down by Harry Middleton, and Forrester reacted quickest to sweep home the loose ball.

Lens continued to provide the brightest spots at the other end, and Stuckmann produced an excellent save to turn the Dutchman’s 30-yard pile-driver around the post.

Doncaster (4-5-1): Stuckmann (Marosi 82); McCullough, Jones, Butler, Taylor-Sinclair; Coppinger (Mandeville 82), Wellens (Carberry 86), Middleton (Lindley 86), Keegan (Whitehouse 67), Evina (McKay 86); Forrester (Pugh 82).

Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Pantilimon; Jones (Matthews 63), O’Shea (Kaboul 46), Coates (Beadling 63), van Aanholt; Rodwell (Bridcutt 71), Cattermole (Larsson 46); Lens (Watmore 82), Johnson (Buckley 82), Defoe (Giaccherini 46); Fletcher (Graham 46).

Subs (not used): Mannone (gk), Pickford (gk).