City notched a second home win of the campaign against last season’s relegated Premier League outfit
A delightful show of clinical finishing gave Hull City a deserved 3-1 win over Southampton at the MKM Stadium, as the Tigers claimed their first win in four attempts.
Kyle Joseph bagged his second goal in three Championship games with a close-range finish after Joe Gelhardt’s header was diverted into his path.
City doubled their lead just before the hour when John Lundstram fired in after a superb knock-down from Oli McBurnie, and not to be outdone, the Scotsman made it 3-0 with 20 minutes to go when he headed in Ryan Giles’ free-kick.
Adam Armstrong’s 95th-minute strike denied the Tigers a clean sheet but this was a deserved home win for Sergej Jakirovic’s side.
Here’s how Tigers reporter Barry Cooper rated the players at the MKM Stadium on Saturday afternoon….
Ivor Pandur: On his 50th appearance for the Tigers, had very little to do in the first period aside from some generic mopping up. Could do nothing with the goal. 7/10
Ryan Giles: Almost found McBurnie early on with one of his trademark crosses and did for the third goal. Much better going the other way. 8/10
Charlie Hughes: Impressive in the first period with a couple of important blocks and that continued in the second with a dominant display against an array of attacking talent. 9/10
John Egan: Won a couple of important headers early on from Saints’ first real foray forward and then before the break under his bar. 9/10
Lewie Coyle: His deep cross found the head of Gelhardt for the opener and had a hand in the second with a fine cross for McBurnie to head into the path of Lundstram. 8/10
Amir Hadziahmetovic: The Bosnian made his home debut and was very neat and tidy in the first period and that continued in the second, albeit with less influence. 8.5/10
John Lundstram: Booked inside 15 minutes for a shirt pull he needed to make in the middle after being given a terrible pass. Scored a quite brilliant volley to make it 2-0. Blazed over with 15 minutes to go. 8/10
Mohamed Belloumi: A first start 319 days after suffering an ACL injury at Oxford United and showed some really nice moments, cutting in off the left, before a sprint down the left saw him clutch the back of his leg, and after a lengthy spell of treatment, he limped off just before half-time. 6/10
Joe Gelhardt: Headed at goal which created the opening for his old pal Joseph. Blazed over before the break amid what was a good spell for City. His touch for Coyle in the build-up to the second was vital. Fine showing. 8/10
Kyle Joseph: Got the opening goal and his first at the MKM Stadium when he turned in from close range. Ran his socks off all afternoon, and it wasn’t a surprise when he cramped up late on. 8/10
Oli McBurnie: The striker made his 250th appearance in the top four tiers of English football (no goal in previous five against Saints). Lead the line really well in a tough first period. Superb header to tee up Lundstram and then a trademark header to make it 3-0. A proper forward’s display. 9/10
Subs:
Darko Gyabi (for Belloumi 44): Came on for his debut, replacing Belloumi just before the break and looked a nervous wreck to start with but grew into the game and looked bright as it wore on. 7/10
Regan Slater (for Amir 61): Important change at that time in the game to add fresh legs. Picked up his customary booking. 7/10
David Akintola (for Gelhardt 61): Looked neat and tidy off the bench, and his legs were important to stretch it. 6/10
Enis Destan (for Lundstram 65): Won a couple of flick ons, and was booked moments after coming on for a tussle with Jack Stephens. 6/10
Kasey Palmer (for Joseph 81): Couldn’t quite get on the end of Akintola’s cross to make it four with the last kick. 6/10
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