Makeshift Sunderland grab late win against Championship side Hull City in pre-season friendly

League One Sunderland beat Championship side Hull City 2-1 at the Stadium of Light on Friday evening with goals from Ross Stewart and Will Grigg cancelling out a Josh Magennis strike.

The Black Cats announced coming into the game that Lee Johnson and several players were not in attendance having come down with gastroenteritis. Despite this, the hosts put in a very strong performance and came away victorious against a strong Hull side.

The Tigers were not quite at full strength, having split their squad between this game and their fixture with Manchester United under-23’s, but it was still a side packed with names who played key roles in their promotion-winning campaign last season.

The game was far from an ideal preparation for Sunderland ahead of next weekend’s league opener against Wigan Athletic, given the absentees, however, the players on show did their chances of being involved this season no harm.

Anthony Patterson, expected to be back up for Lee Burge this season, started in goal, with a back four of Carl Winchester, playing out of position at right-back, Tom Flanagan, Callum Doyle and with Dan Neil playing out of position at left-back having played mainly in midfield and upfront for Sunderland’s youth sides.

In midfield, Corry Evans lined up alongside Luke O’Nien, with Lynden Gooch, Elliot Embleton and Josh Hawkes playing ahead of them and behind Ross Stewart.

It was the Championship side who edged the start of the game, with Keane Lewis-Potter, Ryan Longman, Greg Docherty and Magennis all having efforts in the opening 20 minutes, but none came close to beating Sunderland goalkeeper Patterson.

The deadlock was broken 26 minutes in, but it was Sunderland who took the lead, making the most of what had been a rare opportunity at that stage, as Embleton played in Stewart who fired an angled finish past Matt Ingram.

Sunderland were the better team after they scored, but they were unable to add to their lead in the first-half.

Embleton, who assisted the goal, impressed on his return to the Stadium of Light following his loan at Blackpool. The youngster was Sunderland’s most creative player on the night and twice had efforts from the left-hand side just before the break that went just wide.

Chances after the break were few and far between. The hosts were no longer on top but they were still more than holding their own against their higher division opposition.

Andy Cannon came close for the visitors just after the hour-mark but dragged his shot wide.

10 minutes later, Hull were level however, Lewie Coyle crossed from the right finding Magennis in the box who poked the ball past Patterson.

The hosts then went straight up the other end and were unlucky not to retake the lead, with substitute Aidan O’Brien heading just over.

With five minutes to play, the visitors nearly went ahead with a Lewis-Potter free-kick that was destined for the back of the net before Patterson got down well to keep it out.

Sunderland snatched the win at the death with another substitute, Grigg, pouncing in the box to convert after Tom Flanagan headed down a free-kick.

The Black Cats recorded a good victory over Hull City and will look to carry on their unbeaten pre-season run into the tough League One season ahead of them.

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