Tony Gillan: Sunderland will be happy to tackle Hull City again in next season's Championship

The match was passable at best, the opposition was poor generally and poor beyond belief when defending set-pieces.

The second goal was offside.

But wasn’t it still a rare delight to see a victory. Any victory.

Let’s be positive. Sunderland were creditable.

Jordan Pickford increased his pecuniary value still further, George Honeyman looked a useful option for next season, while Ahmed Elmohamady had his best ever game for Sunderland.

There was some moaning from the home side about un-awarded penalties.

But the referee was correct every time. I half wish he wasn’t.

I remember Sunderland-Hull on Boxing Day 2014 when the referee (A Marriner) failed to give Sunderland two penalties for the most blatant instances of deliberate ball-handling outside of the professional juggling community.

Then there was November 2013 and the red card that the official (A Marriner) wrongly showed to Lee Cattermole.

These things are not forgotten which makes it difficult to convene much sympathy for Hull, who should also have had Sam Clucas sent off on Saturday.

Swansea’s win over Everton made it a disastrous day for Hull, the only side to lose twice to Sunderland this season.

They are now warm favourites to take the third relegation place.

This might suit Sunderland next year (blithely assuming that they have realistic promotion ambitions).

Hull, with their financial problems and weirdo owner, are likely to be less well equipped than Swansea in the Championship.

I bear Hull no malice and they can forgive me for the tone of this piece; because at Sunderland in 2016-17 a gloat is to be treasured like the birth of a child.