Hull City vs Sunderland. Sky Bet Championship.
MKM StadiumAttendance16,597.
Saturday 16 September 2017 18:36, UK
Substitute David Meyler scored a late equaliser against his former club Sunderland to earn Hull City a 1-1 draw at the KCOM Stadium.
James Vaughan opened the scoring with his first goal for the Black Cats before Meyler secured a share of the spoils with eight minutes remaining. Sunderland ended a four-game losing streak in the Sky Bet Championship while Hull have now gone three games without a win.
The hosts began reasonably brightly before becoming more subdued as the first half wore on. Markus Henriksen had an opening after seven minutes but his low effort across goal was beaten away by Sunderland goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter, denying Nouha Dicko the chance to poke home.
Sunderland gradually gained a foothold and their first attempt came when Didier Ndong tried a speculative 35-yard effort with his left foot in the 16th minute. Moments later they were ahead when Callum McManaman's cross was nodded home at the back post by an unmarked Vaughan.
The former Everton man was booked for removing the corner flag in celebration but the 29-year-old was happy enough to have notched his first goal for the club in his 10th appearance. He could have added a second on the half-hour mark but for a good save from Allan McGregor as Sunderland began to grow in confidence.
The best Hull could muster for the remainder of the first half was a Sebastian Larsson free-kick which deflected off one of his team-mates and out for a goal-kick. Meyler and Jon Toral were brought on by Hull boss Leonid Slutsky at the start of the second half and the impact was a much faster tempo.
The Tigers almost equalised after 53 minutes when Ola Aina's superb cross found Kamil Grosicki at the back post but his header was brilliantly tipped wide by Ruiter. Toral headed another fine Aina cross wide on the hour mark as Hull continued to press for a way back into the match.
Sunderland still posed a threat on the break, as McManaman proved with a weaving run and left-footed shot which was beaten away by McGregor. Vaughan's attempt on the rebound hit a cluster of Hull defenders.
The Tigers brought on former Sunderland striker Fraizer Campbell and his first meaningful bit of action saw him curl a 25-yard shot over the bar after 73 minutes. Campbell also headed over from close range before teeing up Meyler with eight minutes remaining.
The Republic of Ireland midfielder drew the hosts level with a deflected finish from 12 yards which beat Ruiter at his near post. Meyler tested the palms of Ruiter again with two minutes left as Hull hunted down a winner but Sunderland somehow kept them at bay.
Leonid Slutsky: "David Meyler missed four months (with a knee injury), he's really not ready to play every few days because we are waiting for his optimum fitness. In one week, no problem, but every few days it's very difficult. Today he only played 45 minutes and changed the game.
"We played two different halves. The first half was terrible, the second half was much better. I'm sorry for the first half, but in the second half, anybody who sat in the stands today would be satisfied by our second half. Believe me, everybody tried 100 per cent to succeed. We can play better and better. We are working very hard to try to change the situation."
Simon Grayson: "Vaughany was in bed Thursday night and all day Friday with sickness and diarrhoea, so he was on his last legs in the last 15 minutes. I'm really pleased for him that he played and got his reward with the goal as well.
"I'm disappointed but pleased (with the team's performance) as well. We were very comfortable and dominated the ball, created some good chances and got the goal. We didn't pass the ball and retain it as well as we should do but we limited them to few opportunities. I think we just ran out of steam a little bit."
