The Black Cats’ starting line-up produced a much-improved display from Saturday’s lacklustre showing at Tynecastle, with Simon Adingra opening the scoring with his first goal since joining Sunderland from Brighton in the 11th minute.
Nathan Tinsdale hooked home a first-half equaliser for Hull, but Regis Le Bris’ side controlled the game for lengthy spells as they continued to build up their fitness ahead of their Premier League opener against West Ham in two-and-a-half weeks’ time.
The scores were still level when Le Bris changed all ten of his outfield players midway through the second half, but the gulf in quality between Sunderland’s starters and fringe players in the squad was evident from the extent to which Hull went on to dominate the final 20 minutes of the game.
Abu Kamara fired the Tigers into the lead within three minutes of Le Bris making his alterations, and the home side also struck the woodwork as Sunderland’s collective performance level dropped markedly once their second string was on the field.
Harrison Jones was the notable selection in Sunderland’s starting XI, with the youngster getting a chance to impress at left-back ahead of Niall Huggins, who dropped down to the bench after starting Saturday’s defeat at Hearts.
The youngster has not had too many first-team opportunities, and he started nervously this evening, losing track of Kamara as the Hull winger found himself in acres of space to meet Ryan Giles’ cross from the left. Kamara should have scored, but instead stroked a first-time effort wide of the far post.
Sunderland once again lined up with Adingra and Chemsdine Talbi in their wide positions, and the wingers combined as the Black Cats opened the scoring in the 11th minute.
Talbi rolled a square ball infield from the right, and from the edge of the 18-yard box, Adingra swept home a clinical first-time finish. It was the summer signing from Brighton’s first goal in a Sunderland shirt, and provided evidence of just how effective he could be next season drifting in from the left.
The Black Cats’ lead lasted just six minutes, however, with some defensive laxness enabling Hull to equalise. Jenson Seelt’s pass out of defence played Enzo Le Fee into trouble, and the Frenchman’s attempted ball upfield deflected off Matt Crooks and looped into Sunderland’s 18-yard box.
There was still a lot for Tinsdale to do, but the Hull midfielder beat Simon Moore with an excellent hooked volley.
Sunderland were leaving themselves short at the back on occasion, but at the other end, their attacking was much more incisive and purposeful than had been the case at Tynecastle four days earlier.
Both Talbi and Adingra were much more heavily involved than they had been against Hearts, and the former set up Le Fee for a shot that the midfielder fired into the side-netting shortly before the interval.
Sunderland barely created a chance against Hearts, but they were much more threatening on Humberside and Mayenda went close just after the hour mark, firing in a low shot that was saved by Ivor Pandur after breaking into the right of the box.
Kasey Palmer flashed a back-post header wide as Hull continued to threaten with balls into the box, before Le Bris changed all ten of his outfield players in the 68th minute.
The alterations meant Sunderland had an extremely makeshift defence – the back four was comprised of Timur Tutierov, Tom Lavery, Jenson Jones and Niall Huggins – and Hull exploited the situation to claim the lead within three minutes of Le Bris making his substitutions.
Kyle Joseph drove into the penalty area and held off Jenson Jones before rolling the ball into the path of Kamara, who opened up his body before curling a low shot into the corner.
Sunderland’s makeshift defence was struggling to cope, and Hull substitute Joel Ndala almost claimed a third goal with a shot that struck the outside of the post with Moore beaten.
SUNDERLAND (4-3-3): Moore; Hume (Tutierov 68), Ballard (Lavery 68), Seelt (J Jones 68), H Jones (Huggins 68); Sadiki (Roberts 68), Diarra (Neil 68), Le Fee (Browne 68); Talbi (Aleksic 68), Mayenda (Abdullahi 68), Adingra (Ogunsuyi 68).
Subs (not used): Nna Noukeu (gk)
