Boss Regis Le Bris saw his Sunderland side beaten 1-0 by Leeds United in New Jersey.

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has saluted his side’s pre-season friendly against Leeds United as a good test with a higher standards declaration.

The Whites and Black Cats locked horns in the early hours of Friday morning UK time in New Jersey in what presented the second game of a USA tour for both sides but just a second friendly of the summer for Leeds.

Sunderland, though, were taking in their third friendly against Leeds having began the summer with a 5-1 win against York City before last weekend’s 4-2 loss to Liverpool in Nashville.

As Lukas Nmecha scored the only goal of the game, Le Bris saw his side fall to another defeat against Leeds who were themselves picking up a first win of the summer after the previous weekend’s 3-2 loss to Wrexham in Tampa.

Le Bris, though, said post match that his team were in a good place as he highlighted “higher standards” after facing Farke’s Whites.

“The standards are getting higher because of the opposition”

"Yeah, it was a good test," said Le Bris as quoted by the Sunderland Echo.

"I think we felt today that the standards are getting higher because of the opposition, but also because we feel that the energy of the squad is getting better as well.

"So we still have a few details to solve, to fix, and it's probably better to make mistakes now to understand what could be the consequence rather than being exposed later.

“So overall, I appreciated the energy. Our principles, I think, are getting better as well so we are in a good place."