Sunderland 0 Hull City 2: Bruce is quick to respond to punish Black Cats

Oasis, Pink and Take That are just some of the acts to have their concerts on Wearside commemorated in such a way.

There are plenty of football images, too, with the heroes of the Black Cats’ three promotions since they left Roker Park in 1997 smiling down on those fortunate enough to be roaming the executive areas.

What there is not – and is never likely to be – is a photo of Steve Bruce.

The boyhood Newcastle United fan suffered such a traumatic end to his reign as Sunderland manager in November, 2011, that he needed a police escort away from the Stadium of Light after what turned out to be his final game in charge.

A subsequent smear campaign that labelled Bruce as a football dinosaur and someone incapable of working even a computer only served to further blacken his reputation in the North East.

However, after Hull City marked Bruce’s first return since that axing with this 2-0 win, maybe there will be a new-found respect afforded the 53-year-old by the Black Cats’ support and hierarchy.

He deserves nothing less after overseeing what was a textbook display in how to capitalise on the opposition being reduced to 10 men.

Wes Brown’s dismissal just three minutes into Hull’s visit – for a professional foul that denied Shane Long a clear goalscoring opportunity – allowed Bruce to put into place a plan that was so impressively executed by his team that the Yorkshire club could easily have won by at least double their eventual two-goal winning margin.

With Sunderland forced into a reshuffle that left them a man short in midfield, Hull spent the rest of the afternoon passing the ball around with such aplomb that the hosts had little alternative but to run themselves into the ground.

Time after time, play would be quickly switched from one flank to the other. And time after time, the Black Cats would be left chasing shadows as the ball was moved crisply between blue shirts.

Tom Huddlestone played a pivotal role. As did Jake Livermore alongside him. It was, however, David Meyler who perhaps best epitomised Hull’s performance with a truly outstanding shift against his old club.

Rarely wasting a pass, Meyler, who retains such an affection for Sunderland that he was in the away seats at Old Trafford as Gus Poyet’s side battled through to the Capital One Cup final, was always available when a team-mate was looking to move the ball on.

He also showed great anticipation to break up countless Sunderland moves, while it was the Irishman’s harrying of Phil Bardsley that led directly to the clumsy pass that found Long a second or two before Brown hacked him to the floor.

With the midfield firmly locked down, that allowed Long and Nikica Jelavic to pay back a slice of the £14m that brought the duo to the club last month by netting a goal apiece to seal Hull’s second win on the road of the season.

That the other also came in the North East – against Newcastle United in September – was something that did not escape the notice of Steve Harper, who came in for some choice words from the Sunderland fans due to his past allegiances at St James’ Park.

The 38-year-old goalkeeper said: “We had been struggling away from home so maybe we should play in the North East every week, as we won at Newcastle, too.

“Then we won at Middlesbrough in the Cup. Sadly, that is the end of our trips to the North East. Seriously, though, we needed a response after a bad run.

“As a newly-promoted club, we knew that would happen at some stage. It always does.

“The big thing for us is, though, was that ours came at a time when the board could do something about it. Fair play to them, they did just that by bringing in proven goalscoring quality.

“Look at Shane Long. What a great signing. He was so clever in getting across the defender (Brown), it gave him no choice but to dive in.

“I am sure the manager is pretty chuffed with the win. There is a lot more to him (than people thought after leaving Sunderland). In my first 10 games, we played three different formations.

“He also changes formations during games and at half-time. He has that real flexibility.”

Before the trip to Wearside, Hull had just one league double to show for their two and a half years in the Premier League.

That had come against Fulham in the 2008-09 season but, by half-time on Saturday, it was difficult to see anything but Sunderland joining the London club in being beaten home and away by the Tigers in the top flight.

Brown’s third-minute red card and the total dominance the visitors then enjoyed for the rest of the half was the reason for such confidence in the Hull camp.

By then, the Tigers were a goal ahead thanks to an instinctive 17th-minute flick from Long that turned Jake Livermore’s shot beyond Vito Mannone.

Either side of that strike, the one-time Hull loanee goalkeeper kept out both Livermore and Nikica Jelavic with stunning saves while Long also struck the upright with a fiercely-struck 20-yard shot.

In contrast to the fleet-footed visitors, Sunderland laboured in the first half with their best effort being Adam Johnson’s shot that flew straight into Harper’s arms.

The Black Cats were little better after the break and it was no surprise when Hull doubled their advantage thanks to Jelavic heading in his first goal for the club after Maynor Figueroa’s shot had been diverted into the Croat’s path by Santiago Vergini.

All in all, therefore, a day to savour for not only Bruce on his return to Sunderland but also all Tigers’ fans.

Both the club and supporters received a further boost in the final 15 minutes when Sone Aluko brought to an end a near four-month absence from the first team with an Achilles injury.

[email protected]