KINGSTON UPON HULL, England (AFP) — Sunderland manager Gus Poyet angrily clashed with Hull City counterpart Steve Bruce after being sent off during a stormy 1-1 Premier League draw between the teams yesterday.

After Senegalese striker Dame N’Doye had put Hull ahead in the 15th minute at the KC Stadium, Poyet was sent to the stands for protesting about referee Mike Dean’s decision to book Jack Rodwell for diving.

He reacted by striding over to remonstrate with Bruce, a former Sunderland manager, who had to be restrained by the fourth official as Poyet walked away.

Poyet had the last laugh in the 77th minute when Rodwell headed in an equaliser that left Sunderland four points above the relegation zone, a point below Hull.

Sunderland’s preparations for the game had been clouded by the arrest and subsequent release on bail of winger Adam Johnson over allegations he engaged in sexual activity with an under-age girl.

The England international was not in the visitors’ squad, having been suspended by Sunderland pending the outcome of the police investigation, but the visitors were able to call upon centre-back Wes Brown after his red card in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Manchester United was rescinded.

After a frenetic start, Hull went ahead when N’Doye cleverly found the net with a back-heel from Tom Huddlestone’s drilled free-kick.

The game’s main talking point arrived in the 36th minute when Sunderland midfielder Rodwell was booked for diving after going to ground inside the Hull box.

Poyet’s furious reaction saw him sent to the stands and he reacted by marching over to Bruce and proffering his hand, provoking an angry response from the Hull manager, who had to be held back by the fourth official.

Hull continued to press in the second half, with N’Doye spooning a shot over the bar from Nikica Jelavic’s lay-off and also heading off-target.

But Sunderland equalised with 13 minutes to play when substitute Patrick van Aanholt’s delightful cross was bundled in from close range by Rodwell.

N’Doye might have won the game for Hull moments later, but his header from Ahmed Elmohamady’s cross was brilliantly saved by Sunderland goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon.

In another game, Christian Benteke’s penalty in time added on ended a run of seven successive defeats for Aston Villa as they emerged 2-1 winners over West Brom.

Benteke — who also scored the winner from the penalty spot in the corresponding fixture last term though that was a seven goal thriller — restored the hosts one goal advantage after Saido Berahino had levelled for the visitors following Gabriel Agbonlahor’s early strike.

Villa’s win — their first in 13 league matches — is their first since beating bottom side Leicester three months ago and sees them climb out of the bottom three with a three point advantage over QPR and Burnley.

Sunderland’s English defender Wes Brown (right) vies with Hull City’s Croatian striker Nikica Jelavic during the English Premier League match at the KC Stadium in Kingston upon Hull, north east England, yesterday. (PHOTO: AFP)