Match ends, Sunderland 6, Exeter City 3.
SunderlandSunderland6ExeterExeter City3
Jermain Defoe's hat-trick helped Premier League Sunderland avoid an upset to League Two Exeter City in the second round of the League Cup.
Jack Rodwell drove in a shot and Defoe chipped in for the Black Cats before Emmanuel Oyeleke and David Wheeler pulled the visitors level.
Defoe restored Sunderland's lead only for Tom McCready to again bring Exeter level by half-time.
Goals from Rodwell, Duncan Watmore and Defoe then secured Sunderland's win.
The top-flight side have now conceded 11 goals in their opening four games of the season.
They again looked defensively vulnerable, despite fielding a strong line-up with only two changes from the first-choice team that drew 1-1 with Swansea on Saturday.
The Black Cats will play Manchester City at home in the next round.
Line-ups
Sunderland
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Pantilimon
- 3van Aanholt
- 16O'Shea
- 22Coates
- 12MatthewsSubstituted forGoochat 58'minutes
- 7Larsson
- 8Rodwell
- 21M'Vila
- 6Cattermole
- 18Defoe
- 19GrahamSubstituted forFletcherat 45'minutesSubstituted forWatmoreat 54'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Brown
- 23Giaccherini
- 26Fletcher
- 32Stryjek
- 41Watmore
- 46Gooch
- 48Robson
Exeter
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Olejnik
- 2Butterfield
- 39Brown
- 26Tillson
- 5McAllister
- 11Davies
- 19Oyeleke
- 4NobleSubstituted forMorrisonat 67'minutes
- 23McCready
- 10HolmesSubstituted forGrantat 74'minutes
- 22WheelerSubstituted forHoskinsat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Woodman
- 8Oakley
- 13Morrison
- 14Nicholls
- 16Hoskins
- 21Hamon
- 31Grant
- Referee:
- Stuart Attwell
- Attendance:
- 14,360
Match Stats
Home TeamSunderlandAway TeamExeter
- Possession
- Home62%
- Away38%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home10
- Away4
- Corners
- Home8
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home5
- Away4
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sunderland 6, Exeter City 3.
Post update
Attempt missed. Duncan Watmore (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
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Attempt saved. Arron Davies (Exeter City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Corner, Exeter City. Conceded by Lee Cattermole.
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Attempt saved. Jack Rodwell (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Jordan Tillson.
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Lynden Gooch (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Joel Grant (Exeter City).
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Foul by John O'Shea (Sunderland).
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Lee Holmes (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Sunderland 6, Exeter City 3. Jermain Defoe (Sunderland) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Sebastian Larsson.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jermain Defoe (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Foul by Jack Rodwell (Sunderland).
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Joel Grant (Exeter City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Lee Cattermole (Sunderland).
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Lee Holmes (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Jack Rodwell (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Goal!
Goal! Sunderland 5, Exeter City 3. Duncan Watmore (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Exeter City. Will Hoskins replaces David Wheeler.
