Hull City were soundly beaten 4-1 by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon.
Things had looked bright after Kamil Zayatte scored to make the score 1-1 at half time, but the home side controlled the second half to run out worthy winners.
Paul McShane and Ibrahima Sonko made their debuts with McShane also named as captain against his former club.
Sonko played at centre back with Kamil Zayatte while McShane started at right back.
Craig Fagan played up front while new boy Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink was on the bench.
Michael Turner made his Sunderland debut following his recent move from the KC ranks.
Fellow Ex-Tiger Fraizer Campbell also started for the Black Cats while former Sunderland man Kevin Kilbane was in the middle of City's midfield.
Although Sunderland had the better of the possession early on, it was City who threatened first with Geovanni's shot from distance forcing a save from Craig Gordon.
However, Sunderland were awarded a 13th-minute penalty when Fagan stupidly handled the ball in his own box at a corner.
Darren Bent stepped up to comfortably fire home from the spot.
Kamel Ghilas had a chance to draw City level when he beat the offside trap to latch onto a long ball over the top, but he couldn't connect with the ball and Sunderland were able to clear.
McShane was booked on 35 minutes for handball, much to the right back's frustration before Sunderland's Lee Cattermole received the same moments later.
From the resulting free kick, Stephen Hunt's delivery was met by Zayatte, but Gordon was equal to the header.
Seyi Olofinjana then went close with a near post header from Sonko's long throw that dropped onto the roof of the net.
The Tigers levelled two minutes before half time when Zayatte met a corner from the left and powered a header in off the post.
It almost got better moments later when Fagan met the ball with his head, but he couldn't get the necessary power to score.
Half Time: Tigers 1-1 Sunderland
The second half began with Lorik Cana being booked for a two-footed challenge on Hunt.
Sunderland had the first chance of the second half when Bent looked to feed the unmarked Campbell, but Myhill did brilliantly to get a touch to take the ball off the striker's toes.
However, City never really cleared the danger and eventually the ball dropped to Andy Reid who drilled a low shot into the far corner of the net.
City's first change came on 58 minutes as Vennegoor of Hesselink made his first appearance, coming on for Fagan.
That was soon followed by the introduction of Jozy Altidore for Kamel Ghilas.
Sunderland went 3-1 ahead on 67 minutes. Zayatte tried to play offside, but Sonko wasn't on the same wavelength.
That allowed Bent to canter into the area and finish low past Myhill.
City looked for a route back into the game and should have had a penalty when, from Hunt's corner, Kevin Kilbane's header struck Cana's hand, but the referee failed to see the offence.
The predictable appeared to happen on 75 minutes when it looked like Turner rose to head home Reid's corner but it was City's Zayatte who turned the ball into his own net.
Olofinjana picked up a late booking for a foul on substitute John Mensah, but the game was already well and truly up.
Tigers (4-4-1-1) Boaz Myhill; Paul McShane [captain], Ibrahima Sonko, Kamil Zayatte, Andy Dawson; Kamel Ghilas (Altidore 64), Seyi Olofinjana, Kevin Kilbane (Mendy 75), Stephen Hunt; Geovanni; Craig Fagan (Vennegoor of Hesselink 58).
Subs: Matt Duke, Bernard Mendy, George Boateng, Nick Barmby, Jozy Altidore, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.
Bookings: McShane 34, Olofinjana 90.
Sunderland (4-4-2) Craig Gordon; Phil Bardsley (Mensah 77), Michael Turner, Anton Ferdinand, Kieran Richardson; Steed Malbranque (Da Silva 81), Lee Cattermole, Lorik Cana [captain], Andy Reid; Fraizer Campbell, Darren Bent (Jones 74).
Subs: Trevor Carson, Jordan Henderson, Paulo Da Silva, Kenwyne Jones, Nyron Nosworthy, John Mensah, Daryl Murphy.
Bookings: Cattermole 37, Cana 46.
