- Fabio Carvalho’s second-half winner saw Hull City climb into the play-off places
- Sunderland suffered their fourth loss in seven games since Beale was installed
- Bournemouth, Brighton, Brentford and Aston Villa embarrass the top clubs with their managerial appointments, why aren’t the big boys braver? It’s All Kicking Off
Michael Beale insisted he will fight to win over his critics after Sunderland fans turned on the beleaguered boss.
Fabio Carvalho’s deflected late winner pushed Hull back into the top six and intensified the pressure on Beale, who was subjected to taunts of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ by angry supporters.
Beale has won two of his seven games since arriving a month ago following the unfathomable decision to sack Tony Mowbray before Christmas.
The former Rangers head coach faces an impossible task to persuade many supporters he is the right man for the job on Wearside, and the 43-year-old said: ‘I’ll take what comes my way and I’m aware of the noise outside. It’s down to me to front-up but it’s not helping the team on the park.
‘It comes a month into the job so it just shows the expectations on managers now. I know no words I’ll say will give any comfort to the fans. The game’s kicking us at the moment. We’re bitterly disappointed and it’s going to be a long week.
Michael Beale received ‘sacked in the morning’ chants from Sunderland fans despite only being in the job for a month
Liverpool loanee Fabio Carvalho scored his first goal for his new club to ensure the Tigers moved in the Championship play-off places
‘I’d just say to the fans to get behind the young players. The crowd reaction shows Tony did a good job here and the fans liked him but that’s gone now. The decision for him to leave was nothing to do with me.’
A contest of few chances was settled with 20 minutes left when Carvalho volleyed home a cross from fellow Liverpool loanee Tyler Morton to seal Hull’s first win of the New Year.
Delighted boss Liam Rosenior said: ‘It’s our most important performance of the season. A lot of things have been going against us and it was really pleasing to grind-out a win like this. I’m so proud of this group of players.
‘We’re a young team who are learning on the job. It can be easy to lose belief in what we’re trying to do but I thought we showed tremendous character.’
