Sunderland lost 1-0 to Hartlepool United last night.

The Black Cats fielded a side with several first-team regulars but fell behind in the eighth minute to the npower League One side when Steven Howard finished from close range.

Sunderland were rather subdued in the first half although improved after the interval, with David Meyler shooting just wide from 25 yards.

Their best chance of a leveller came when Fraizer Campbell saw his stooping header superbly tipped over the bar by Scott Flinders as Sunderland crashed to their second pre-season defeat.