Joel Asoro scored his maiden Sunderland goal on his first Championship start as they won a tense game between two sides relegated from last season's Premier League.
Asoro's 20th-minute strike means goal difference is all that is keeping Hull above the bottom three and their hosts in it.
Hull pushed hard for a second-half equaliser but could not match the moment of quality the Black Cats' youthful attacking players served up in the early stages. When they did test the home goalkeeper, Robbin Ruiter produced a point-blank save from David Meyler in added time.
Sunderland started with an XI that had four academy graduates but only five league goals between them but the energy of their teenage strikers gave them a much-needed lift against a Hull side who were also low on form and confidence at kick-off.
2017/18 English League Championship, 2017/2018 English League Championship
