Sunderland 2-1 Rennes: Three Things We Learned As Black Cats End Pre-season With Win

Sunderland beat French top flight outfit Rennes 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at the Stadium of Light to see Regis Le Bris' side conclude their pre-season preparations with a comeback victory.

The Black Cats went a goal behind just after the half-hour mark, with Dan Ballard conceding a penalty that was dispatched by Rennes forward Esteban Lepaul, who netted 20 goals in 32 Ligue 1 outings for Rennes last season.

After the first-half drew to a close, Le Bris decided against making any changes to his strong Sunderland XI at the interval, and the Black Cats were rewarded for their efforts on the hour-mark.

Sunderland frontman Brian Brobbey bullied the Rennes defence to convert the Black Cats equaliser, before Trai Hume put Le Bris' side ahead with a clever finish inside the box to complete the second-half turnaround at the Stadium of Light.

With the Premier League returning next Saturday for Sunderland with the trip to Ipswich Town, the comeback win over Rennes will have been a benefit to Le Bris as the pre-season efforts culminated in victory.

At half-time in the Rennes pre-season clash, news emerged that Sunderland are finally set to sign Toulouse full-back Dayann Methalie after weeks of negotiations.

Although, the imminent Black Cats signing will have difficulty displacing Reinildo Mandava.

Against Rennes, Reinildo was in impressive form in every department of the pitch for Sunderland, and was denied a goal late in the first-half after his low effort was saved brilliantly by Brice Samba.

With Methalie set to arrive at Sunderland in a £25.7m move in the coming days, Reinidlo gave Le Bris a reminder as to the stellar qualities he possesses, showcasing that the left-back spot is his to lose amid the French youth international's imminent move.

Brobbey continued his outstanding form seen in the summer World Cup tournament, during which he netted three goals for the Netherlands, with his equaliser setting Sunderland on course for victory.

The bullish number nine showed great tenacity and desire to dispossess the Rennes backline and bounce off his opposite number before dispatching calmly past Bamba.

As he showed in his debut campaign last season for Sunderland, his physical presence is almost unmarkable at times, and Brobbey will inevitably cause similar havoc for opposition centre-backs next season as he did against Rennes.

Before the pre-season clash, reports emerged that Sunderland are set to offer Romaine Mundle a new contract despite the left-winger's historic injury record and his lack of goal involvements last season.

However, the former Spurs starlet showed his intent to silence his doubters with his second-half substitute cameo against Rennes, with Mundle looking particularly bright when introduced by Le Bris.

Evidently, Mundle will need to produce in the Premier League next season to vindicate Sunderland's debatable contract call, but his performance against Rennes off the bench was an exciting marker of intent from the 23-year-old winger.