Blackpool continued their pre-season campaign in a tight affair at Bloomfield Road against Sunderland, ending in a narrow defeat.
Both managers named strong sides in the opening 45 minutes, with the likes of Luke O'Nien, Alan Browne and Jobe Bellingham all starting for Sunderland whilst Dan Grimshaw, Jordan Rhodes and Hayden Coulson all started for Pool.
Sunderland were making Blackpool defend in the opening 45 minutes, with numerous corners proving a real test for the hosts, who stood firm.
Dan Grimshaw was tested twice by the light-footed Patrick Roberts, first from a backpass which Roberts chased down, only for Blackpool's shot-stopper to get there in time. The second, Roberts reached the byline and tried to square the ball into the danger area, only for Grimshaw to block the ball out for a corner kick.
At the other end, Albie Morgan looked to impress with a long-range strike from just inside the attacking half after spotting Sunderland's goalkeeper off his line, only for a defender to scamper across and get a block in.
The Seasiders were growing into the game against the side from the division above, with Jordan Gabriel forcing a save from Anthony Patterson just before half-time. Sunderland then found the back of the net 30 seconsd later in a rapid move, but it was correctly ruled out for offside.
Half-time: Blackpool 0-0 Sunderland
Pool were looking impressive at the start of the second half, with eight changes made at the break. The likes of Richard O'Donnell, Kyle Joseph and Lee Evans were introduced as Neil Critchley ensured he got minutes into as many of his team as he could.
The hosts created two impressive chances in the opening stages. CJ Hamilton used his pace to get to the byline and play the ball to Jake Beesley who just missed the target by inches. Minutes later, Lee Evans tested the goalkeeper with a free-kick from 20 yards out, with the rebound falling to Hayden Coulson but he just couldn't keep it down and it sailed over the bar.
In what was proving to be an entertaining goalless draw, Blackpool were more than a match for Sunderland. Youngsters Alex Lankshear, Dan Sassi and Jack Moore came on with 15 minutes to go, as the Seasiders were defending well and showing real intent at the other end.
It was, however, Sunderland who snatched the win late on through Jack Clarke, as he smashed a cross in from yards out to give the visitors the win in a highly-competitive pre-season fixture.
Full-time: Blackpool 0-1 Sunderland
Starting XI: Grimshaw, Gabriel, Pennington, Casey, Husband, Coulson, Norburn, Morgan, Apter, Fletcher, Rhodes.
Substitutes: O'Donnell, Chapman, Ashworth, Beesley, Carey, Daniels, Evans, Finnigan, Hamilton, Hill, Jones, Joseph, Lankshear, Moore, Sassi.