Hull City 1-1 Sunderland AFC
Ross Stewart scored on his return to action on Saturday, as Sunderland were held to a draw at Hull City.
The Lads started brightly at the MKM Stadium, but they were forced into an early defensive change when Danny Batth limped down the tunnel.
Dan Ballard returned in his place and made three important defensive clearances, with Amad and Ellis Simms threatening at the opposite end during a goalless opening period.
Hull were awarded a penalty within three minutes of the restart, but Oscar Estupinan failed to hold his nerve and fired wide from the spot.
Elliot Embleton was then stretchered off and sent off following a collision with Ryan Woods, but Stewart struck on his return and the Lads led with 15 to play.
The Tigers struck back on 82 minutes through Ozan Tufan and eight minutes were added on, but the Black Cats stayed resolute to return to Wearside with a point.
Tony Mowbray made one change following Monday’s defeat to West Bromwich Albion, as Jack Clarke replaced Alex Pritchard at the MKM Stadium.
Pritchard missed out due to a minor calf strain, but the Lads were handed a bench boost through the inclusion of Ballard, Stewart and Jewison Bennette.
Ballard and Stewart hadn’t featured since August, while Bennette made his comeback to the squad after returning from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Sunderland made a bright start to proceedings on Humberside, but the Tigers crafted the first real opening when Jean Michael Seri’s cross threatened to creep in and forced Anthony Patterson into action.
The Lads were dealt a blow during the same passage of play, as Batth limped out of the game and was replaced by Ballard.
Embleton seized the ball during the opening exchanges, floating from side to side and creating the space for Lynden Gooch and Amad to let fly – both efforts were blocked by the Hull rear guard.
Liam Rosenior’s side turned the screw after the half-hour mark, but three towering interventions in quick succession by the returning Ballard ensured the contest remained level at the break.
The Tigers spurned a penalty at the start of the second period, as Regan Slater beat Ballard to the ball and Estupinan fired wide from 12 yards.
Embleton was then injured during a collision with Woods, with the midfielder sent off and stretchered off as a consequence of the same passage of play.
A triple change saw Dennis Cirkin, Patrick Roberts and Stewart enter the fray – and the latter returned with a bang by shattering the deadlock on 75 minutes.
Hull climbed off the canvas and levelled seven minutes later, as Tufan’s clever finish – and eight minutes of injury time – set up a nervy finale on Humberside.
Mowbray’s side refused to leave the MKM Stadium empty-handed, battling until the final seconds to claim a point.
Hull City: Ingram, Coyle (Sinik 76), Greaves, Woods, Longman, McLoughlin (Vale 81), Estupinan, Smith (Tufan 71), Seri, Slater, Christie. Subs not used: Lo-Tutala, Elder, Figueiredo, Docherty.
Sunderland AFC: Patterson, Batth (Ballard 14), O’Nien, Gooch, Alese (Cirkin 60), Evans, Neil, Embleton, Amad (Ba 85), Clarke (Roberts 60), Simms (Stewart 60). Subs not used: Bass, Bennette.