Hull City’s reward for beating Stoke City in the Carabao Cup at the bet365 Stadium on Tuesday night is a third-round clash with Premier League rivals Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
City have won 1-0 on their last two visits to Wearside, and against a side preparing for the Europa League, they will fancy their chances in the North East.
Boss Sergej Jakirovic made 11 changes from the weekend win over Manchester United, handing first starts to Lucas Herrington, Matt Targett, Lucas Gourna-Douath and Jens Hjerto-Dahl, while Hidemasa Morita made his debut off the bench in the second half.
Kieran Dowell cancelled out Robert Bozenik’s goal before half-time with a thunderous effort, but City couldn’t find a winner in normal time, and needed penalties to secure their safe passage through for the first time in six years.
Dillon Phillips, making his first start for City since Good Friday at Oxford United, kept out George Hirst’s penalty, and after four perfect kicks, Mo Belloumi stroked in the winner to seal a 5-4 victory in the shootout.
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City haven’t been past the second round since winning at Leeds United on penalties in 2020, with Grant McCann’s side beaten 5-1 at West Ham in round three, during Covid, before going on to win the League One title.
Games in round three will be played over two weeks next month, with the first set of fixtures being played in the week beginning September 7, and the next group taking place the following week, September 14.
Before that League Cup outing, City face Premier League games against Coventry City this Saturday, followed by the visit of Aston Villa to the MKM Stadium next weekend. Depending on when the fixture is scheduled, it could come in the midweek before or after their trip to Stamford Bridge to tackle Chelsea.
City don’t play the Black Cats until next year in the Premier League, with the clash on Wearside coming on January 2, with the reverse at the MKM Stadium on February 10, 2027.
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