MARC WILSON admits Sunderland are a “work in progress”, but the deadline-day signing insists there is an air of positivity among the players despite the club’s struggles in the bottom half of the table.

Simon Grayson’s team are without a win in six Championship matches, but ended a four-match losing streak with a battling point at Hull.

Sunderland led through James Vaughan’s header in the 17th minute, but were on the back foot for much of the second half as Hull were forced to change personnel and shape to break down the visitors.

The Black Cats finally cracked in the 82nd minute when David Meyler’s deflected shot beat Robbin Ruiter at the near post.

Nevertheless, the result stopped the rot after a morale-sapping 1-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.

“I think we’re a very positive team and the manager’s positive with the lads,” said Wilson. “We’re a work in progress, but I can see things starting to gel together better for us as a team as was evident against Forest in periods. On Saturday, in the first half especially, I thought we played some tremendous stuff.

“In the second half, fair play to Hull they changed their system around and they got at us and made things difficult for us.

“We’ll go away and look at the negatives and work hard on the training pitch to put it right because we want to be doing well, we want to be getting positive results and we know we need to work hard to get those results in this league.”

Wilson praised the contribution of Callum McManaman, who tormented Hull at times and provided a perfect cross for Vaughan’s goal. Sunderland also have Wilson’s Republic of Ireland team-mate Aiden McGeady close to a return.

“When we get Aiden fit we’ll have two of the best wingers in the league,” he said. “Obviously, I know Aiden and he’s a fantastic player with fantastic ability so once he gets himself fit again and firing balls into the box that will help Vaughany because he thrives off that stuff. If anything we need to put more balls in the box and ask questions of defences.

“I think we’re definitely improving as a team but we can’t take anything for granted because it’s a difficult league as we’ve found out already.

“The new boys, especially Callum, have been fantastic and Jonny Williams is looking like a really good player, I think he’s going to be very good for the club.

“I know results haven’t been good and we understand that as a team but it’s up to ourselves to take responsibility for that and rectify it.”