The home side bossed possession and chances, particularly in the second-half, but Hull were never out of it and a late penalty kept the outcome in doubt to the end.

It would have been an injustice had Sunderland not claimed their third win from the opening four games of the campaign.

It was a perfect night for football; still and cool with the frosty bite that is no doubt just round the corner yet to nip Eppleton CW's ground in Hetton.

A young Sunderland side was supplemented by the experience of Graham Kavanagh in midfield and Nick Colgan in goal.

David Dowson was the lone striker ahead of a five-man midfield that had Jordan Henderson on the right, Kavanagh, captain Jack Colback and David Meyler through the middle and Nathan Luscombe on the left.

Colgan was protected by a back four of Michael Kay at right-back, Peter Hartley and Niall McArdle at centre-back with Michael Liddle the left full-back.

Sunderland were strongest down their left, Liddle, Colback and Luscombe combining to be a constant threat and the home side opened brightly, a long diagonal ball from Henderson seeking Dowson, but the forward was just crowded out.

Kavanagh drove a 40-yarder narrowly wide, but there was a scare just before the half-hour when Colgan appeared to bring down Hull winger Jamie Devitt in the box only for referee Ross Joyce to wave play-on.

Sunderland were ahead five minutes later with a well-worked opener.
Meyler set Luscombe away on the left and his cross was glanced home across keeper Mark Oxley by Dowson.

McArdle almost doubled the advantage after 40 minutes after Henderson's free-kick was headed down by Dowson and Oxley blocked the defender's shot.

Liddle's slightly misdirected cross in the 54 minute gave Oxley concern, but it drifted just over the bar and Hull almost levelled a minute later when Colgan's attempted pass to Liddle was intercepted by Devitt.

The keeper redeemed himself, saving with his foot from the winger's shot.

Oxley saved from Henderson before Colback shot just over after meeting Liddle's cross as the hosts turned the screw.

Hull were not spent, however, and Colgan denied striker Nicky Featherstone on 78 minutes before Sunderland finally gave themselves breathing space three minutes later.

It was another well constructed goal with Dowson getting free into the box on the right and seeing his fierce shot saved by Oxley, only for the loose ball to be met by Kavanagh, who made no mistake.

Hull continued to show the tenacity that has characterised their first-team's start in the Premier League when they pulled one back with four minutes to go.

Peter Hartley's pursuit of substitute Darragh Sattelle was deemed too vigorous when the forward was barged over in the box for a penalty that Nathan Doyle converted low to Colgan's left.

There was to be no shock equaliser, though, and Sunderland closed out a deserved win.

Sunderland Res: Colgan, Kay, Hartley, McArdle, Liddle, Henderson, Meyler (Chandler 87), Kavanagh, Colback, Luscombe (Cook 73), Dowson (Prica 87). Subs not used: Misiewicz, Brown.

Hull Res: Oxley, McNamara, Gardner (Deagle 73), Bennett (Laws 73), Plummer, Doyle, Devitt, Welsh, Featherstone, Kendall (Sattelle 85), Atkinson. Subs not used: Hallam, Cairney.

Referee: Ross Joyce.

Attendance: 1,086.