Late winner for Sunderland in pre season friendly

Hull City were beaten 2-1 by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light as their pre-season campaign continued.

Josh Magennis had cancelled out Ross Stewart’s first half opener, but Will Grigg popped up with a winner for the home side right at the death.

Head Coach Grant McCann included two of his summer signings in his starting eleven as Andy Cannon started in midfield and Ryan Longman in attack. Matt Ingram was between the posts and had a back four of Josh Emmanuel, Alfie Jones, Jacob Greaves and Lewie Coyle in front of him. Richie Smallwood captained the side from his central midfield berth and was joined by Cannon and Greg Docherty, with Longman playing in attack alongside Keane Lewis-Potter and Magennis.

Lewis-Potter found himself in a promising position inside the Sunderland box early on but he sent a shot wide of the far post, while some smart play from Longman down the right saw him skip away from his man before seeing an effort saved by Anthony Patterson.

Elliot Embleton saw an effort fly high and wide at the other end before some more neat build-up play at the other end resulted in Docherty’s low strike being kept out by Patterson.

Magennis was also denied by Patterson after turning and shooting from inside the box, however it was Sunderland who took a 26th-minute lead as the ball was worked through for Stewart to finish past Ingram inside the area.

Magennis had a chance to respond when he was on the end of Lewie Coyle’s lovely ball over the top but the forward couldn’t keep his effort down.

Embleton was denied twice by Ingram in the space of a minute, with the keeper also denying Stewart as Sunderland finished the half strongly.

Emmanuel and Coyle switched flanks at the start of the second half and Coyle put a couple of balls in from the right early in the half although nobody was on the end of them.

Longman sent a low shot wide after Cannon had sent him into the box before the Tigers drew level on 69 minutes when Coyle’s low cross was turned in by Magennis on the six-yard line.

Magennis was then replaced by youngster McCauley Snelgrove as Longman moved into a central attacking position, while Matty Jacob came on for Coyle.

Lewis-Potter brought a save out of Patterson with a well-struck free kick from 25 yards out, but it was Sunderland that snatched the win right at the death as substitute Grigg headed in from close range.

Sunderland: Anthony Patterson, Tom Flanagan, Corry Evans (Aiden O’Brien 46), Callum Doyle, Elliot Embleton (Jack Diamond 61), Lynden Gooch, Luke O’Nien (Ollie Younger 61), Ross Stewart (Will Grigg 75), Carl Winchester (Ellis Taylor 75), Dan Neil, Josh Hawkes.

Subs Not Used: Adam Richardson.

Hull City: Matt Ingram; Josh Emmanuel, Alfie Jones (Festus Arthur 85), Jacob Greaves, Lewie Coyle (Matty Jacob 74); Richie Smallwood ©, Andy Cannon, Greg Docherty (Will Jarvis 82); Ryan Longman (Louis Beckett 87), Keane Lewis-Potter, Josh Magennis (McCauley Snelgrove 70).

Subs Not Used: Harvey Cartwright.