Darren Bent grabs a goal for the drown Hull City

HULL CITY 0

SUNDERLAND 1
- Bent 7'

**HULL'S two-year stay in the Barclays Premier League is effectively over after they were beaten at home by Sunderland yesterday thanks to Darren Bent's seventh-minute goal.

It could have been different had Jimmy Bullard scored a 41st-minute penalty rather than hit a post, while both sides were reduced to ten men in first-half injury-time after an off-the-ball clash between Jozy Altidore and Alan Hutton.

Hull could have had no complaints when the visitors took the lead in the seventh minute when Bent tapped in from a tight angle.

The Tigers should have drawn level in the 41st minute. Caleb Folan got away with a tug on Hutton, but the ball fell to Geovanni and he was sent tumbling in the area by Hull's Michael Turner.

Bullard is usually a confident penalty taker but the ball rebounded off Craig Gordon's post.

With the referee about to blow for half-time, both sides were reduced to ten men. Altidore and Hutton challenged for the ball near the byline, with the Sunderland defender then foolishly throwing the ball at the head of his opponent.

Altidore responded by headbutting Hutton, earning an immediate red card. Referee Lee Probert waited for Hutton to receive treatment before, somewhat harshly, also showing the Scot a red card.

The Tigers came close to levelling in the 72nd minute. Andy Dawson's shot did not look like it would trouble Gordon but bounced up, forcing the keeper to punch away.

The Hull fans gave a hearty cheer when Steve Bruce was sent to the stands for one comment too many to the officials, but they knew their fate and the final whistle brought resignation as a number of home players slumped to the turf.

Squads:

Hull City: Duke, Mendy, Gardner, Mouyokolo, Dawson, Barmby, Boateng, Bullard, Geovanni, Folan, Altidore. Subs: Myhill, Fagan, Cullen, Kilbane, Sonko, Olofinjana, Cairney

Sunderland: Gordon, Hutton, Turner, Kilgallon, Richardson, Campbell, Henderson, Meyler, Malbranque, Bent, Jones. Subs: Carson, Bardsley, Da Silva, Zenden, Mwaruwari, Cana, Ferdinand