Goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann thwarted Lens on a number of occasions and, having previously enjoyed his best goalscoring season under Dick Advocaat’s management, the Dutchman will be hoping to hit the ground running when Sunderland travel to Leicester City next weekend.

The Black Cats were beaten 2-nill when they travelled down to South Yorkshire to play Doncaster.

“Everybody could see how well Jeremain played tonight”, said Advocaat, in quotes published on the club’s official site.

“The fitness has to be there but it was a poor result, so hopefully on Saturday we can show how far we are with our progress when we face Hannover”.

Miss any of last night’s action?

Sunderland Pantilimon, Jones (Matthews, 63), O’Shea (Kaboul, h-t), Coates (Beadling, 63), Can Aanholt, Cattermole (Larsson, h-t), Rodwell (Bridcutt, 71), Johnson (Buckley, 82), Lens (Watmore, 82), Defoe (Giaccherini, h-t), Fletcher (Graham, h-t).

Younes Kaboul also made his debut but the pair could not inspire the Black Cats to victory in their penultimate pre-season.

If Lens’ attacking play was the major positive from a Sunderland perspective, the reappearance of some all-too-familiar defensive frailties was a key concern.

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

Lens, had a good game, the £8m man taking the limelight from Kaboul who came on at the interval after recovering from injury though Sunderland – who had seen Patrick van Aanholt hit his own post early-on – were already trailing after falling behind on the quarter-hour mark.

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