Sunderland U21 coach Robbie Stockdale feels his young players will learn from their thrashing by Manchester United.
Adnan Januzaj struck a hat-trick in the 4-0 rout.
Stockdale told safc.com: "On the plus side we started with an under-18 player and we put another on along with a member of the under-17s, these players might not have enjoyed it but they will have learnt so much from the experience.
"They also now understand the level at which the aspire to be, playing against one of the best young players in the world in [Adnan] Januzaj and a Brazilian international who has won countless trophies in Anderson."
