Hull City 1 Sunderland 1: Subsitute David Meyler clinches home point for stuttering Tigers

Substitute David Meyler scored a late equaliser against former club Sunderland to earn Hull a 1-1 draw at the KCOM Stadium.
Hull City 1-1 SunderlandHull City 1-1 Sunderland
Hull City 1-1 Sunderland

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.

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The hosts began reasonably brightly before becoming more subdued as the first half wore on.

David Meyler celebrates his second half winnerDavid Meyler celebrates his second half winner
David Meyler celebrates his second half winner

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.

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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.

David Meyler celebrates his second half winnerDavid Meyler celebrates his second half winner
David Meyler celebrates his second half winner

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.

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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.

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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.