Back on the pitch and back in the goals. After more than three months out, it took Ross Stewart less than 15 minutes to make his mark.

Introduced after an hour, finding the net 14 minutes later.

For nine minutes, the returning striker looked to have fired 10-man Sunderland to the most-hard fought of victories at Hull City. But this was a tale of two substitutes and Ozan Tufan, also introduced in the second half, struck to level at 1-1 and snatch a point for the Tigers.

READ MORE: Recap Hull City 1-1 Sunderland as it happened

If the first half at the MKM Stadium was poor, the second was chaotic and controversial, coming to life with referee Gavin Ward taking centre-stage.

First, he awarded the home side a penalty that was dragged wide before harshly sending off Elliot Embleton as he was stretchered off on the hour mark.

The highs and lows and boosts and blows of management.

On the day that Tony Mowbray was finally able to welcome back Stewart and Dan Ballard, the Sunderland boss saw both Danny Batth and Embleton forced off out of action. And Alex Pritchard was absent with a calf strain.

Clarke replaced Pritchard in the only change from the side that started against West Brom. But Stewart and Ballard were both deemed fit enough to return to the matchday squad for the first time since August, the pair both named on the bench.

Ballard’s fitness was soon put to the test, introduced in the opening quarter of an hour. As welcome as the sight of the central defender’s return will have been to Tony Mowbray, concerning was the fact that it came because fellow centre-half Batth hobbled off injured.

It was Ballard who was twice on hand to deny City in what was the first clear cut chance of a poor first period just after the half hour mark.

First he bravely headed clear from under the crossbar before remaining aware to the danger and blocking a Regan Slater cross from the left.

Chances were hard to come by at both ends in the first half but it was Sunderland who finished the half on top. Their first first big chance of the afternoon came when Embleton and Neil worked an opening for Simms but the striker lacked composure in the box and blazed over. Soon after Amad engineered an opening for himself but dragged his shot wide.

The game burst into life in the opening quarter of an hour of the second half.

The Tigers were handed a glorious opportunity to get themselves in front when Ballard was adjudged to have fouled Slater in the box, Ward pointing to the spot. But the wait for a shot on target went on, striker Estupinan dragging an awful penalty wide.

Soon after came the controversial red card, replays showing the decision to send off Embleton for a coming together with Woods was very harsh. The red card was finally flashed after a long delay as Embleton received treatment, eventually sent off as he was stretchered off.

Mowbray responded with a triple change, Stewart introduced alongside Patrick Roberts and Dennis Cirkin. And two of the substitutes combined superbly, Roberts picking out Stewart with a brilliant lofted through-ball, the striker calmly slotting the ball underneath home keeper Ingram.

The lead was short-lived, Woods crossing from the right and Tufan turning the ball beyond Patterson.

Eight minutes of stoppage time were added on and City, with their man advantage pushed for a winner, but Sunderland stood firm.