Ricky Sbragia may still profess to be uncertain whether he wants the job on a permanent basis, but Sunderland’s caretaker manager is unquestionably putting himself in the frame. Successive wins, and eight goals scored, constitute an application in themselves.

Actually, no, they don’t, said the Scot with the Italian name after seeing his team score three late goals to beat a Hull side which, by the standards they have set themselves, lacked both penetration and cohesion. “The chairman \ keeps me informed, and I’m just happy with what I’m doing,” he said. “For me, it is just about keeping it going, and focusing on the next game.”

That he has made a difference is clear; less so are the reasons why, though Sbragia made it clear the atmosphere around the training ground is a little more relaxed than under Roy Keane. “We’re giving players a bit more responsibility — they’re adults, you shouldn’t always be coming down on them,” he said. “I think they enjoyed themselves today — they’re ecstatic in the dressing room, and all the staff are too.”

Sbragia certainly got one over on Hull manager Phil Brown. Even before this game, goalkeeper Boaz Myhill had been beaten 15 times in eight games at the KC Stadium, the equal worst home record in the Premier League, which may have been one of the reasons Brown switched from his usual cavalier 4-3-3, with Geovanni playing just behind Marlon King and Daniel Cousin, to a more conservative two up front, the Brazilian partnering King and Cousin starting on the bench. It might also have been an acknowledgement of the threat posed by Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cisse. With the injuries that disrupted the early part of Jones’s season fully behind him, his partnership with the on-loan Frenchmen is showing signs that it could become formidable.

Even so, Sunderland had not created any notable chances when they took the lead in the 11th minute. Andy Reid’s neat pass gave Danny Collins space to come forward down the left, he played an accurate square ball to Steed Malbranque, and from around 21 yards, with minimal back-lift or follow-through, he drilled a right-footed shot beyond Myhill.

If Hull have conceded too many goals at home, they have generally refused to let the problem affect them, and once again they struck back in style. Nick Barmby has fought his way back into the team in recent weeks, and the former England midfielder showed why when Myhill thumped a free kick long towards the Sunderland penalty area.

Both City centre-halves had gone up, and Kamil Zayatte headed the ball on for his partner Michael Turner to get in a shot. Marton Fulop blocked with his legs, the ball came back out towards the grounded Turner, who somehow managed to set the ball up for Barmby to drive home. It was the 34-year-old’s first goal of the season, and his first in the Premier League for five years.

With both teams committed to going forward, the entertainment level continued to be high. It took a good late block from Anton Ferdinand to prevent Barmby from making it two, Geovanni saw a free kick well saved by Fulop, Jones headed a Malbranque cross wide, and Malbranque himself should have done better than pull a left-footed shot wide five minutes before half-time.

It seemed unlikely that the pace of the game could be maintained and 11 quiet minutes after half-time prompted Brown to replace Richard Garcia with Cousin. Kieran Richardson’s forceful run ended in a shot which Myhill had to dive to his right to save, King almost seized on a driven cross from Sam Ricketts which stuck under Ferdinand’s feet, and Cisse got the better of Zayatte to whip in a cross which Jones seemed certain to turn past Myhill, only for the excellent Turner to deflect the ball on to the outside of the post.

Cousin turned home Geovanni’s cross from an offside position, but both sides were trying to win the game, and fortune favoured Sunderland. Richardson’s shot — if it was on target at all — was being comfortably covered by Myhill before Zayatte’s outstretched foot left the goalkeeper hopelessly wrong-footed.

Mike Riley’s somewhat harsh dismissal of Ricketts for a second booking soon afterwards effectively sealed City’s fate. Peter Halmosi, covering at left-back, was skinned by Malbranque, who put the ball on a plate for Jones to head in from no more than four yards. Cisse’s stoppage-time fourth into the bottom left corner was cruel.

Having acknowledged Hull were far from their best, Brown turned his attention to Sbragia. “I don’t think Ricky’s making it clear he wants the job, but I’ve been in a caretaker position twice myself, and the key is to get the players playing for you,” he said. That much at least Sbragia has already achieved.

Star man: Kenwyne Jones (Sunderland)

Yellow cards: Hull: Ricketts, Boateng, King Sunderland: Richardson

Red card: Hull: Ricketts

Referee: M Riley

Attendance: 24,917

Hull City: Myhill 6, Mendy 6, Zayatte 6, Turner 7, Ricketts 5, Garcia 5 (Cousin 56min, 5), Ashbee 5, Boateng 6 (Halmosi 81min), Barmby 7 (Stelios 67min), Geovanni 6, King 6

Sunderland: Fulop 6, Bardsley 6, Ferdinand 6, Nosworthy 7, Collins 6, Malbranque 7, Tainio 6 (Leadbitter 78min), Richardson 6 (Edwards 88min), Reid 6 (Whitehead 74min), Cisse 6, Jones 8