Sunderland made the long journey home empty handed after suffering a 2-0 defeat against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday afternoon. 

The Black Cats made the 800 mile plus journey to Home Park but two first-half goals from Morgan Whittaker and Finn Azaz saw Tony Mowbray's side fall to defeat. 

Mowbray made two changes from the side that defeated Birmingham City 3-1 before the international break, with Luke O'Nien and Dom Ballard replacing Jenson Seelt and Nector Triantis at centre-back. 

The defence could do little about the opening goal on 24 minutes however, as Whittaker strode forward before unleashing an unstoppable, swerving strike from 30 yard which flew past Anthony Patterson into the top corner. 

It was 2-0 around 15 minutes later, as Azaz was left with far too much time and space on the left wing, and he danced inside O'Nien before finding the bottom corner with a tidy finish. 

Sunderland were close to grabbing one back before half-time, as the dangerous Jack Clarke burst past his man on the left wing before cutting it back for Jobe Bellingham, but the youngster's shot came back off the post.

It was a similar story for the Black Cats in the second 45 as they beat Argyle 'keeper Michael Cooper thanks to a Trai Hume header, but his effort came back off the post before Adil Aouchiche put the rebound wide. 

The French midfielder volleyed another effort narrowly wide and it became clear that this was simply Plymouth's day. 

With Sunderland pushing to get back into the game, the Pilgrims had a number of opportunities to get the killer third goal.

The pacey Bali Mumba was set free on goal late on but sent his effort well wide of Patterson's post when one-on-one, while  Mustapha Bundu wasted a glorious chance when the ball was laid off to him in the box following more good work from Mumba. 

Clarke was denied by Cooper at his near post but Sunderland simply couldn't find a way through, and Plymouth's two first-half goals proved to be enough, as Mowbray's side drop to ninth in the league table.