safc.com’s Sam Lightle reviews the action from the KCOM Stadium as Sunderland continued their Sky Bet Championship campaign this afternoon.
Sunderland were forced to settle for a point on Humberside as Hull City fought back in the second period.
James Vaughan scored his first goal for the club, nodding home a fine cross from fellow new boy Callum McManaman with 16 minutes played.
Both sides then had chances to add more goals to the game, but it was former Black Cat David Meyler who made his chance count when he poked the ball past Robbin Ruiter to ensure the points were split in the final 10 minutes.
SCENE SETTER
Ahead of kick-off Simon Grayson was boosted by the news that Lamine Kone was fit enough to return to action after missing Tuesday’s match against Nottingham Forest. Kone returned to the starting XI, in replace of Ty Browning while Vaughan came in for the injured Lewis Grabban. Hull City, meanwhile, lined up with former Black Cat Seb Larsson in the heart of midfield. Former red and white favourites Meyler and Fraizer Campbell started on the bench for the hosts. Fine rain swept across Humberside as kick-off approached, joining an ice-cool breeze that was swirling around the KCOM Stadium. The stage was set. Both sides took to the pitch in search of three points, with Hull City suffering back-to-back defeats on road in the last week while Sunderland chased their first league win since they dismantled Norwich City 3-1 in August.
RUIT PLACE
Sunderland were steady with their approach, knocking the ball from side to side with Jonny Williams involved heavily in the transition between midfield and attack. Vaughan failed to make a meaningful connection on the ball as McManaman swung it in from the right with five minutes played. But less than 60 seconds later, the Black Cats were left with their hearts in their mouth as Jarrod Bowen flashed a low ball into the mix, Ruiter stuck out an arm and just about managed to cut the dangerous looking ball out that saw Noucha Dicko end up in the back of the net.
OH VAUGHANY, VAUGHANY!
Hull looked brighter in the opening stages, with Ruiter the keeper who was more involved but it counted for little when Vaughan climbed well at the back post to head Sunderland in front on 16 minutes. McManaman got to the byline and stood the ball up towards the back post, allowing Vaughan time to pick his spot which he duly did to score his first goal for the club. It was nothing more than Vaughan had deserved for his tireless efforts, pulling Michael Hector, especially, all over the place. And it could’ve and probably should’ve been 2-0 on the half-hour mark when the 29-year-old caught Hector in possession on the edge of the box. Vaughan drove at goal but was denied by the feet of Allan McGregor opted to try and ram the ball home at the Scot’s near post. Sunderland continued to impress as the opening half wore on, playing nice triangles in the middle of the park with Williams pivotal to controlling the tempo. But the lads’ hard work could’ve been undone on the stroke of half-time when Wilson conceded a free-kick 20-yards out. That meant one thing and one thing only. A Seb Larsson free-kick. Fortunately, the Swede didn’t get his angles quite right and Sunderland held their lead at the midway stage.
THE SECOND 45
A double change from the hosts greeted Sunderland at the start of the second 45, Hector and Markus Henriksen departed, with former Black Cat Meyler and Jon Toral coming on in their place. The Tigers were much-improved and quickly set about penning Sunderland deep into their own half. Defensive resilience, a cool head and dissciplein was key for the lads as they looked to keep the hosts at bay, with Kamil Grosicki arrowing a strike towards Ruiter’s near post. Wave after wave of attacks continued to crash against the Black Cats’ backline as the rain came in, Toral headed Ola Aina’s cross wide from eight yards after Kone came to Sunderland’s rescue as Dicko stormed through.
ON THE CHARGE
It was a storm Sunderland had to weather and weather it they did, roared on by an extremely vocal travelling support who dragged them up the pitch. McManaman forced McGregor to make his first save of the half with a venomous drive inside the area. The Scot parried his effort out towards Vaughan but he was unable to hook it back towards goal. Sunderland continued to fly forward, Didier Ndong won possession high up the field and while his pass to Vaughan had too much on it, Oviedo gratefully stormed forward and won a corner.
A LATE TWIST
The Tigers never gave up, though, and managed to claw themselves level when Meyler struck lucky in the 81st minute. The Republic of Ireland midfielder stabbed the ball towards Ruiter’s near post and the Dutchman was unable to keep the effort out as it trickled home to earn his side a share of the spoils.
Next up, Everton in the Carabao Cup.
Hull City: McGregor, Hector (Meyler, 45), Grosicki, Dicko (Campbell, 68), Larsson, Bowen, Dawson, Henriksen (Toral, 45), Kingsley, Tomori, Aina
Subs: Marshall, Irvine, Diomande, Clark
Sunderland: Ruiter, Oviedo, Cattermole, Williams (Rodwell, 75), Vaughan (Gooch, 87), McManaman (Jones, 78), Ndong, Matthews, Kone, Honeyman, Wilson
Subs: Steele, Browning, Love, Gibson
Referee: Mr D. England