SUNDERLAND 4, HULL CITY 1

FOR a moment Niall Quinn lost the air of chairman, businessman, accountant and all the trappings that go with the job he never envisaged would engulf his life so spectacularly.

Darren Bent, an investment that could cost £16.5million, had just repaid a bit more of his fee with his fourth goal since tweeting his way north.

Quinn stood, thumping out his own applause, believing that the red and white carpet he dusted down just over three years ago could actually have a bit of magic in it.

Only missing was Ellis Short, the American billionaire responsible for paving the streets to the Stadium of Light with gold.

Hull by then were defeated, 3-1 down, their Sunderland-supporting manager deflated and humbled in his own backyard.

It was hard not to feel some sympathy for Phil Brown. He was linked heavily with the post that eventually went to a Newcastle- supporting Geordie.

You cannot fathom much of what goes on in the North East.

But Steve Bruce is making some sense in this management graveyard.

In the slipstream of Manchester City, Sunderland invested heavily again this summer.

The starting 11 yesterday cost £66million, the most expensive side the club have ever put out. Bruce knew from his appointment that the one thing he would never be able to look for was excuses.

So he is not seeking them.

Sunderland pulled up no trees for 45 minutes. So he told them.

They were not barked at, but there was renewed bite after the break.

Bent's first-half opener, coming from the penalty spot after Craig Fagan inexplicably handled a harmless Andy Reid corner, was their only shot on target.

They were outplayed and over-run by Hull's Geovanni, who had a 25-yarder tipped round by Craig Gordon.

Kamil Zayatte then rose above three defenders after 43 minutes to head Hull level. But half-time changed everything.

Bent caused early problems before the new slimline Reid volleyed clinically from 12 yards.

Anton Ferdinand then brought the ball out and fed Bent and from there he was unstoppable, charging at an uncertain Bo Myhill and drilling his shot through the keeper, before leaving to a hero's reception when his groin gave up.

There does, admittedly, remain fragility within Bruce's side.

They do not cope well with set- pieces, a fact not lost on Brown, whose side peppered the Sunderland penalty area whenever possible.

The installation of Michael Turner will help. He was good yesterday on an awkward introduction following his move from the KC Stadium, like bumping into your ex on your first date with her replacement.

But his character is fairly bombproof and when he was handed the final word, he handled it with true dignity.

With 15 minutes remaining, he rose to challenge his ex-partner Zayatte as Reid's corner came over, the ball ricocheting off the Hull man's shoulder for an own goal.

For a second, Turner started to celebrate then realised he was in front of 3,000 Hull supporters.

Immediately, he waved away excess celebration from himself or his team-mates.

In the end he was joined by fellow new defenders John Mensah, captain of Ghana, and Paulo da Silva, captain of Paraguay.

If that lot gel, Quinn really will have cause for celebration.

• HULL 0, BIRMINGHAM 1

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