Sunderland's Sky Bet Championship campaign got off to a disappointing start on Sunday as they were beaten at the Stadium of Light by newly-promoted Ipswich Town. 

Goals from Nathan Broadhead and George Hirst sealed a 2-1 win for the Tractor Boys on their return to the second tier, with Dan Neil's effort only proving a late consolation. 

Neil was inches away from an equaliser in the dying moments for Tony Mowbray's side when he hit the woodwork, as play went on for an astonishing 108 minutes due to the rule changes regarding timekeeping. 

The hosts also saw any hopes of a comeback diminished in the second half when Trai Hume was sent off for a second bookable offence. 

Sunderland started with two of their new signings in attack, with Jobe Bellingham supporting Luis Hemir Silva Semedo in an advanced midfield role, with the rest of the side a very similar outfit to the one which lost out to Luton Town in last season's playoffs.  

It was Bellingham who had the first real chance of the game when fired over with the goal at his mercy before Luke O'Nien superly denied Leif Davis with a clearance off the line. 

The visitors took the lead moments before half-time when Davis' strike was deflected in off the shin of Broadhead, with the former loanee refusing to celebrate after playing a big part in Sunderland's promotion from League One in 2022. 

Kieran McKenna's side pushed on after the break and made it 2-0 on 53 minutes after Broadhead slipped in George Hirst, with the summer signing smashing the ball past Anthony Patterson into the roof of the net. 

Connor Chaplin's opportunistic effort from 40 yards beat the Sunderland shot-stopper but came back off the bar, as the confident visitors threatened a third.

When Hume earned a second yellow card for tripping the dangerous Davis on 72 minutes, it seemed for all the world that Ipswich would see the game out comfortably. 

However, Neil was in the right place at the right time to steer home Dennis Cirkin's pinpoint cross to set up a grandstand finish, and he almost snatched a last-gasp point.

With 103 minutes on the clock, Ipswich goalkeeper Václav Hladký made himself a hero by tipping the midfielder's left-footed effort onto the post, to ensure that Ipswich would take home all three points.

Sunderland will be looking to bounce back at the Stadium of Light when they take on Crewe Alexandra in the EFL Cup on Tuesday evening.