Roy Keane's dream moved a step closer to reality as Sunderland gave their hopes of automatic promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship a massive lift.

Goals in either half from on-loan Manchester United defender Jonny Evans and substitute Stern John moved Keane's men level on points with Birmingham.

Defender Evans, 19, has excelled since joining the club on loan in January and his first senior goal in the second minute was added to in the closing stages by the transfer window signing from Coventry.

This latest success - Sunderland's 11th in 13 unbeaten Coca-Cola Championship encounters since the turn of the year - was not pretty.

But it was never going to be against a fully committed Hull outfit fighting desperately for their Championship lives.

Keane's men were worthy winners, however, and could have put the Tigers out of sight had they not spurned a succession of first-half chances.

Keane recalled errant teenager Anthony Stokes up front after he missed the coach to Barnsley last weekend and subsequently missed out on the midweek draw with Stoke.

In-form Hull were unchanged and arrived on Wearside with two straight wins under their belt.

But they were up against it from the first whistle and Sunderland wasted no time in opening the scoring.

A needless foul by David Livermore on Dean Whitehead down the right flank allowed the Sunderland skipper to whip in a vicious free-kick.

Evans rose highest to plant a firm header past visiting goalkeeper Boaz Myhill to send the majority of a 38,448 crowd wild.

Sunderland continued to create a steady stream of goalscoring opportunities.

David Connolly whipped in a delightful low ball across the face of goal, only for the chance to go begging, and then superb interplay between Whitehead and Stokes sent Liam Miller clear.

The Irish midfielder found himself unmarked inside Hull's penalty area but he lost his footing and Myhill was able to collect.

Yet while Sunderland had far more potency in attack, they were never truly allowed to settle by the visitors.

Hull threatened to steal a goal on the half hour mark when Nicky Forster's flicked header looped onto the top of the net.

But Evans was denied his second goal with half-time approaching after producing another fine header which drew a brilliant one-handed save from Myhill.

Dwight Yorke slotted the ball into the net shortly before the interval whistle, but he was clearly offside and a raised flag from a referee's assistant soon put paid to home celebrations.

Sunderland continued to probe after the restart and five minutes into the second half Yorke saw his 20-yard strike deflected out for a corner.

Hull made a double substitution moments later, replacing the ineffective Stuart Elliott and the injured Livermore with Nick Barmby and on-loan Bolton striker Ricardo Vaz Te.

But Sunderland remained largely dominant and Grant Leadbitter's arrival as a second-half substitute gave them new impetus.

He crossed shortly after the hour mark but Connolly's strike rebounded off a post, before Danny Simpson tested Myhill from distance.

Hull continued to battle but they were undone in the closing stages when Myhill's dreadful backpass went straight to John, who rounded the visiting goalkeeper and slotted the ball into the empty net.

Teams:

Sunderland Ward, Simpson, Nosworthy, Evans, Collins,Whitehead, Yorke, Liam Miller (Wallace 63), Murphy,Stokes (Leadbitter 64), Connolly (John 83).

Subs Not Used: Fulop, Tommy Miller.

Goals: Evans 3, John 90.

Hull Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Delaney, Dawson,Livermore (Barmby 54), Ashbee, Parlour, Forster (Marney 74),Windass, Elliott (Vaz Te 53).

Subs Not Used: Duke, Coles.

Booked: Delaney.

Att: 38,448

Ref: T Bates (Staffordshire).