LATICS’ first home pre-season game ended on an inauspicious note as two defensive howlers gifted victory to Sunderland’s youngsters.

With the Black Cats’ senior squad in Holland, Athletic must have been confident of acquitting themselves well.

However, they were made to pay for two mistakes which presented the visitors with both their goals in the space of four first-half minutes.

Although they produced a much improved second-half display, Pawel Abbott’s penalty proved their only reward.

With Rene Steer and Andy Holdsworth on debuts – and Keigan Parker making his home bow – Athletic started brightly albeit with the better chances going to the visitors.

Reuben Hazell was caught out by a long ball over the top, allowing Liam O’Mahoney an opportunity which he lobbed over the top.

That was an ominous sign of things to come, especially for Hazell, as Latics suffered problems at the heart of the defence during the first half.

Having seen Steer spurn a chance when lifting the ball over the keeper rather than shoot at goal, Athletic were caught by a swift one-two midway through the half.

There appeared little danger when Holdsworth rolled the ball to Hazell, but the defender fell flat on his back, allowing Adam Reed to run through, dummy keeper Dean Brill and stroke the ball into the net.

If that wasn’t bad enough, another error gifted Sunderland a second goal as Hazell’s attempted pass to Sean Gregan went behind the Latics skipper.

With Brill retreating rather than coming out, David Dowson held off Gregan before beating the keeper.

Further defensive woes forced Joe Jacobson into clearing Jamie Chandler’s effort off the line before a mad minute brought chances at both ends.

Brill saved from Galer’s volley, Michal Misiewicz held Abbott’s shot before play quickly switched to the other end where Robbie Weir fired over.

Dave Penney decided enough was enough at the break, introducing Neal Eardley and Kelvin Lomax.

Eardley offered a new dimension with his willingness to get forward and make himself available whenever Athletic had possession. A better performance saw them hustle Sunderland whenever they had the ball, giving them the opportunity to create better chances.

Chris Taylor headed over and Parker prodded a shot beyond the far post before Latics were handed a lifeline midway through the half.

Jean Y’ves M’Voto was adjudged to have hauled down Parker inside the area, triggering a three-way discussion on who was to take the penalty.

Eardley, the regular taker staked his claim, as did Parker, but Abbott was not to be deprived of the ball.

Nevertheless, he made hard work of his kick as Misiewicz almost got to Abbott’s penalty, the ball going underneath his body.

Latics should have been level moments later when Misiewicz saved Jon Worthington’s effort, only for Parker to put the rebound wide from six yards.

Taylor saw another effort saved by the keeper, seconds after another Hazell error allowed Dowson to shoot against the outside of the post.