reporters Hull City 1-0 Sunderland
guardian
Steve Bruce's first meeting with Sunderland since his sacking two years ago was certainly eventful: two dismissals, an own goal and a poleaxed goalkeeper. Oh, and that was all before half-time of a victory that consolidated Hull's position in the top of half of the Premier League.
Geordie Bruce conceded pre-match that, with the benefit of hindsight, his decision to manage Sunderland in the first place might have been a mistake. Such was the drama at the KC Stadium, however, that the story had already moved on apace by the mid-point of a match that nine-man Sunderland almost got something from.
Hull were already in front, courtesy of Carlos Cuéllar's glancing header into his own net, and Sunderland had already replaced Keiren Westwood with Vito Mannone when four minutes of Mackem madness at the end of the first period witnessed the visitors being reduced to nine men. First, Lee Cattermole flew through Ahmed Elmohamady on the halfway line, and did not even wait for Andre Marriner, positioned just five yards away, to confirm his eighth career red card. Then, Andrea Dossena went over the top of the ball in a challenge on another Sunderland old boy, David Meyler, plunging his studs into the Irishman's ankle.
It left Bruce and Gus Poyet, the third manager to be appointed since his departure from Wearside in November, to argue the toss over the decisions. "If every time Lee makes a tackle and he gets a red then we need to change the rules of football and start playing with puppies," said Poyet, refusing to pardon Dossena's lunge.
Bruce said: "The referee in my opinion was right. We all know what I think of Lee as a player and in my day it might have been a booking but the directive is if you leave the floor with your studs showing, even if you don't touch the opposition player, it is seen as reckless. The second one was a horror challenge, they are the ones that really damage footballers. I don't know if you can get three red cards but he deserved it."
The numerical imbalance led to Poyet facing the most challenging of half-time rethinks in just his third match in charge. His decision was to sacrifice last week's derby hero Fabio Borini and Jozy Altidore upon the resumption and send on Wes Brown to marshal the defence.
The changes stiffened Sunderland's resolve and with Hull lacking the quality to add to their tally, they almost snatched a point 11 minutes from time. Paul McShane's misjudgment of a punt downfield left the other outfield substitute Adam Johnson bearing down on goal, only for the veteran Steve Harper to race from his line to block.
Sparked into life, Hull struck the upright seconds later through Jake Livermore's powerful drive while Tom Huddlestone's rising effort was palmed down by Mannone. However, Bruce and the majority of the crowd were made to live on their nerves as Sunderland slung a couple of hopeful free-kicks into the home penalty area during a tense finale.
But Hull held on to what they had: a goal gifted to them. John O'Shea needlessly headed out an overhit cross by Huddlestone and was still berating his fellow defenders for not shouting "leave" when Liam Rosenior slung in a cross from the resulting throw-in: Cuéllar stuck his head in at the near post, which diverted the ball off Yannick Sagbo's toe but edged into the far corner.
"I will go home with a strange feeling. We lost. I don't like it. I hate it, but the second half showed the players even with nine you can keep a clean sheet," Poyet said.
Geordie Bruce conceded pre-match that, with the benefit of hindsight, his decision to manage Sunderland in the first place might have been a mistake. Such was the drama at the KC Stadium, however, that the story had already moved on apace by the mid-point of a match that nine-man Sunderland almost got something from.
Hull were already in front, courtesy of Carlos Cuéllar's glancing header into his own net, and Sunderland had already replaced Keiren Westwood with Vito Mannone when four minutes of Mackem madness at the end of the first period witnessed the visitors being reduced to nine men. First, Lee Cattermole flew through Ahmed Elmohamady on the halfway line, and did not even wait for Andre Marriner, positioned just five yards away, to confirm his eighth career red card. Then, Andrea Dossena went over the top of the ball in a challenge on another Sunderland old boy, David Meyler, plunging his studs into the Irishman's ankle.
It left Bruce and Gus Poyet, the third manager to be appointed since his departure from Wearside in November, to argue the toss over the decisions. "If every time Lee makes a tackle and he gets a red then we need to change the rules of football and start playing with puppies," said Poyet, refusing to pardon Dossena's lunge.
Bruce said: "The referee in my opinion was right. We all know what I think of Lee as a player and in my day it might have been a booking but the directive is if you leave the floor with your studs showing, even if you don't touch the opposition player, it is seen as reckless. The second one was a horror challenge, they are the ones that really damage footballers. I don't know if you can get three red cards but he deserved it."
The numerical imbalance led to Poyet facing the most challenging of half-time rethinks in just his third match in charge. His decision was to sacrifice last week's derby hero Fabio Borini and Jozy Altidore upon the resumption and send on Wes Brown to marshal the defence.
The changes stiffened Sunderland's resolve and with Hull lacking the quality to add to their tally, they almost snatched a point 11 minutes from time. Paul McShane's misjudgment of a punt downfield left the other outfield substitute Adam Johnson bearing down on goal, only for the veteran Steve Harper to race from his line to block.
Sparked into life, Hull struck the upright seconds later through Jake Livermore's powerful drive while Tom Huddlestone's rising effort was palmed down by Mannone. However, Bruce and the majority of the crowd were made to live on their nerves as Sunderland slung a couple of hopeful free-kicks into the home penalty area during a tense finale.
But Hull held on to what they had: a goal gifted to them. John O'Shea needlessly headed out an overhit cross by Huddlestone and was still berating his fellow defenders for not shouting "leave" when Liam Rosenior slung in a cross from the resulting throw-in: Cuéllar stuck his head in at the near post, which diverted the ball off Yannick Sagbo's toe but edged into the far corner.
"I will go home with a strange feeling. We lost. I don't like it. I hate it, but the second half showed the players even with nine you can keep a clean sheet," Poyet said.
