United's Under 23s gained a vital win in the fight against relegation with their best performance of the season at Eppleton. This win takes Nicky Butt's side out of the relegation places and into seventh place in the twelve-team league.
Anyone unfamiliar with the Reds' second string's disappointing form of late would have been scratching their heads at their lowly position in Premier League 2 as the youngsters tore into their opponents from the off, building up a 2-0 lead before half-time that better finishing might have seen them at least double.
As it was the Reds - playing in blue - took the lead when Mitchell converted the penalty awarded after Harrop had been tripped in the area by ex-United defender Donald Love. This was followed quickly by a deflected shot from McTominay that doubled United's lead.
United eventually gained a deserved third with nineteen minutes of the second half remaining when Redmond (above) followed up on McTominay's saved effort to score from the rebound.
Although Sunderland grabbed a late consolation in stoppage time when a free kick into the box led to Honeyman tapping home, there was nothing the Wearsiders could do to claw back the Reds' convincing lead.
The only blemish on a fine night for United was that the free kick was awarded following a foul by Poole that brought him a second yellow. Poole was making his return from a suspension during which his presence was much-missed and Nicky Butt will be disappointed that he'll lose the Welshman again for what was an unnecessary challenge with the game already long won.
