Sunderland were beaten by a goal to nil against Hull City with Fabio Carvalho’s deflected second-half strike proving to be the difference.
With the majority of possession in the hands of the Lads throughout the pass, a cruel blow denied them. In the first 15 minutes of the game, a precise pass from Luke O’Nien found Alex Pritchard with acres of space but his run and low drive was met firmly by the hands of Ryan Allsop.
With little to tell between the two sides in the first 30 minutes, Jenson Seelt came his side’s rescue with last ditch tackle on Ozan Tufan before Anthony Patterson was down low to save Lewis Coyle’s strike inside the box.
Ingenuity between Pritchard and Seelt resulted in a one-two freeing the midfielder into the box but the 30-year-old couldn’t divert his effort on target right before half-time.
Michael Beale’s side upped the ante in the second half with a firm half-volley from distance by Trai Hume stinging the palms of Allsop before Nazariy Rusyn’s back heel inside the box was deflected just wide moments later.
The Tigers made the breakthrough when Fabio Carvalho’s deflected effort from the edge of the box fortunately bounced it’s way passed Patterson.
The Lads return to action on home soil next week when Stoke City are the visitors to Wearside.
SAFC XI: Patterson; Seelt (Pembele 80’), Ballard, O’Nien, Hume; Ekwah (Ba 80’), Neil; Jobe, Pritchard, Clarke; Rusyn (Luis Hemir 71’)
Subs not used: Bishop, Rigg, Triantis, Burstow, Bennette, Aouchiche