Ross Stewart wasted no time in getting back amongst the goals as he scored on his return to earn ten-man Sunderland a draw at Hull City. After three-and-a-half months out with a thigh injury, the Scotland international was back in the squad for the first time and he came off the bench to put the Black Cats in front at the MKM Stadium with 15 minutes remaining.
But Sunderland, who played the final half-hour shorthanded after Elliot Embleton was shown a straight red card for a high boot - and, to make matters worse, departed on a stretcher having landed awkwardly - could not hold on and Hull sub Ozan Tufan rescued a point for the Tigers. When the game was still 11-vs-11, Sunderland had already survived a major scare early in the second half when Dan Ballard - who was also making his comeback after a lengthy injury absence - conceded a penalty, only for Oscar Estupinan to miss the target.
Stewart's goal came against the run of play and, in the end, there was no doubt that Hull deserved their point. Tony Mowbray had made one change to the side that started Monday's home defeat against West Brom, with Jack Clarke replacing Alex Pritchard, who missed out with a calf problem.
READ MORE: Hull City 1-1 Sunderland: Highlights and reaction as ten-man Black Cats earn a point
Hull boss Liam Rosenior made two changes, in his case to the side that started last weekend's goalless draw at Watford. Lewie Coyle and Estupinan came into the side in place of Alfie Jones and Dimitris Pelkas.
The first half was a tight affair and, while there was little between the sides, Hull just about shaded it - although neither side managed a shot on target. Ballard was pressed into action with less than 15 minutes on the clock after Danny Batth limped off with a knock.
And Hull put a couple of tricky crosses into the box early on, but fortunately for Sunderland they failed to find their mark. The first real effort of the game came when Embleton's clever reverse pass found Lynden Gooch inside the area on the right, but defender Sean McLoughlin was in the way of his shot and diverted it behind for a corner.
Then Ballard made two important interventions within the space of a couple of seconds, first winning a crucial header inside the six-yard box to clear a dangerous cross and then when the ball came back across goal he was there to get a foot to it and put it out for a corner.
Ellis Simms sent a shot over the bar after good work from Embleton, and Amad fired wide from the edge of the D. At the other end, Estupinan and Jacob Greaves both sent headers over the top of Anthony Patterson's goal.
In the second half, Hull were by far the better side and Sunderland found themselves with their backs against the wall. Hull had a golden chance to go in front when Ballard's clumsy challenge on Regan Slater gave the Tigers a penalty just three minutes after the restart.
Patterson guessed the right way, but it did not matter in the end as Estupinan sent his spot-kick wide of the right-hand post. Then Sunderland were reduced to ten men just before the hour, as Embleton was dismissed for catching Ryan Woods with a high boot.
Embleton also landed awkwardly and needed lengthy treatment before exiting on a stretcher, with the referee showing him the red card as the midfielder was carried off. Mowbray responded by sending on Stewart, Patrick Roberts, and Dennis Cirkin, and - after Sunderland had weathered a spell of pressure - those changes paid off as the Black Cats went in front on 75 minutes.
They hit Hull on the counter-attack, winning the ball just outside their own penalty area before Roberts' long, straight, ball downfield releases Stewart running in behind the defence and he kept his head to calmly slot past Matt Ingram who had come to the edge of his penalty area.
Sunderland's lead did not last long, however. Eight minutes from time, Woods' cross from the right found Tufan and he headed past Patterson from eight yards out.
That set up a dramatic finish as Hull pushed for a winner with Sunderland happy to hold out, and the Black Cats survived the eight minutes of injury-time to claim the point.
How they lined up
Hull City: Ingram, Coyle (Sinik 76), Christie, McLoughlin (Vale 81), Greaves, Woods, Seri, Smith (Tufan 71), Slater, Longman, Estupinan. Subs not used: Lo-Tutala, Elder, Figueiredo, Docherty
Booked: Greaves
Sunderland: Patterson, Gooch, O'Nien, Batth (Ballard 14), Alese (Cirkin 60), Neil, Evans, Amad (Ba 86), Embleton, Clarke (Roberts 60), Simms (Stewart 60). Subs not used: Bass, Bennette
Booked: Gooch
Sent off: Embleton
Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey)
Attendance: 18,120
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