Sunderland smashed Hull City 4 -1 at the SOL on Saturday sending us soaring up the Premiership into the dizzy heights of sixth. It was a lovely sunny day on Wearside and a brace from Darren Bent, a great strike from Andy Reid and a Hull own goal saw the lads deservedly take all three points despite Zayatte’s late first half header.

Before the game there were injury concerns surrounding the goalkeepers but Craig Gordon pulled through meaning young Trevor Carson didn’t have to step up just yet. George McCartney’s injury saw Kieran Richardson drop to left back whilst Michael Turner made his debut at centre half alongside Anton Ferdinand with Phil Bardsley at right back. Steed started wide right, Cana and Cattermole centre mid with Reid on the left. With Kenwyne Jones playing mid week on the other side of the world he only made the bench with Bruce opting for Campbell and Bent up front.

After the Hull home game towards the end of last season I really took a dislike to Phil Brown and his touchline antics so I wasn’t looking forward to watching the Smart Price Jose Mourinho acting up in the technical area so soon again. As well as disliking Brown I haven’t got much time for Hull fans and despite them bringing a decent following today there booing of Bent, Campbell and surprisingly Turner showed a lack of class. I can understand them booing Bent and Campbell despite the latter almost singlehandedly firing them into the Premiership but the boos directed at a long time servant like Turner was disappointing.

We started fairly well with both Reid and Malbranque looking threatening down either flank but the first effort on goal was an audacious volley from Bardsley which sliced well wide. Cana and Cattermole were getting stuck in the engine room which set the tone for the pair of them today. There were a few iffy moments for Richardson operating at left back early on but Ferdinand did well to mop up some slack play from the midfielder.

Sunderland took the lead from the penalty spot with Darren Bent blasting the ball into the bottom corner after a blatant handball by Craig Fagan from a corner. Andy Reid had won the corner following a sweeping Sunderland move from Sunderland involving Bardsley and Cattermole.

Hull equalised just before the break and surprise surprise it was from a corner which we failed to defend. Giovanni whipped the ball into the six yard box and with Craig Gordon crowded out the ball was bundled over the line by Zayatte. Phil Brown ran onto the pitch leaping in the air to celebrate like he himself had just scored a winner in a World Cup final.

Five minutes after the break we took the lead for a second time when Andy Reid showed great composure to volley into the bottom corner. Phil Bardsley’s cross seemed to take an eternity to drop for the Irishman but Reid made no mistake with the finish.

Cattermole and especially Cana continued to clatter people despite both receiving bookings and I was worried one was going to get sent off. However with the squad so thin there wasn’t many options to change things round to prevent a dismissal.

A great bit of play from Anton Ferdinand and some shocking Hull defending allowed Darren Bent to notch his second of the game. Ferdinand’s through ball allowed Bent a run on goal after a solitary Hull defender played the striker miles on side. Bent ran towards the goal but the keeper didn’t advance off his line so Bent slotted under him.

The game was wrapped up from a corner fifteen minutes from time when Reid’s corner was touched in and although Turner was credited with it from the announcer it’s been reported now as a Zayatte own goal.

We played out the last fifteen minutes with some good passages of play with the fans cheering every Sunderland touch and booing every Hull interception. Phil Brown took a lot of stick from all sides of the ground which was nice.

With the game wrapped up Brucey gave Da Silva and Mensah a run out and they both did ok. A good performance from the lads but to nitpick the Hull goal again came from a set piece and we still don’t look confident defending balls into the box. Hopefully as Mensah and Da Silva get to grips with the Premiership we can tighten things up at the back.

Final Score : Sunderland 4 Hull City 1

ALS Man of the Match: Darren Bent

Aidan Crowe

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