Norwich City first-team trio Amankwah Forson, Kaide Gordon and Gabriel Forysth all featured as the Canaries U21s were well-beaten 3-0 by Sunderland at Colney.
Forson and Gordon both started the game in pursuit of improving their match fitness but were withdrawn at half-time ahead of the senior squad facing Middlesbrough on Sunday afternoon at Carrow Road.
Forsyth replaced Forson and was also exposed to 45 minutes in the contest. Brad Hills was absent, while deadline day addition Brandon Forbes was also omitted from Alan Neilson's squad.
A brace from young Sunderland defender Ben Crompton and a late strike by substitute Marcus Neill condemned City to defeat on Friday night, continuing their mixed start to the Premier League Two campaign.
The Black Cats, managed by former Norwich academy coach and Rangers boss Graeme Murty, made it four wins on the spin with an impressive performance in Norfolk.
Crompton opened the scoring after ghosting between Jaden Warner and Lucien Mahovo to tap home after a corner was initially cleared. The defender was picked out perfectly by left-back Jensen Jones to finish beyond Caleb Ansen in the Canaries goal.
City came close to an equaliser five minutes later when a flowing move ended with Gordon taking the ball from the impressive Mahovo before seeing his effort blocked.
Forson nearly got his name on the scoresheet after latching onto a loose ball before curling a dangerous shot towards goal. That looked destined to beat Dan Cameron, but the Sunderland keeper produced an impressive save to keep his side ahead.
Norwich's pressure continued into the second half when substitute Dan Ogwuru fired over from close range from Mahovo's cutback.
City had Ansen to thank for a number of impressive saves to keep them in the contest in the second half - but it wasn't enough to prevent the visitors from extending their lead as the game moved closer to its conclusion.
Compton converted his second 11 minutes before the end of normal time after stealing a march on Warner to meet a corner on the volley at the back post for his second of the evening.
16-year-old Australian youth international Neill grabbed his first goal for Sunderland U21s late on from close range, confidently dispatching beyond Ansen to secure the three points for Murty's side.
City's youngsters host Sprowston in the third round of the Norfolk Senior Cup on Tuesday before travelling to Manchester City next Friday.
- Bookings: Gee 7, Mundle-Smith 73
Sunderland U21 (4-2-3-1): Cameron; Lavery, Crompton, Kindon, J Jones (Neild, 85); Burke (Jones, 46), Middlemas; Walsh (Neill, 85), Mitchell, Tutierov (Garagusaan, 85); H Jones. Subs not used: Richardson (GK)
- Goal: Crompton 29 & 79, Neill 87
- Bookings: Burke 28, Tutierov 52, H Jones 75
- Added mins: 1 min/7 mins
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