The Tigers recovered after a terrible first half to win in the Potteries
Joe Gelhardt’s 90th-minute winner sealed a stunning come-from-behind victory for Hull City, who beat Stoke City 2-1 at the bet365 Stadium, having been a goal down at the break.
The Tigers should have had an early penalty when Matt Crooks was fouled, and after that wasn’t given, 17 minutes in they were a goal down when Sorba Thomas crunched in a stunning volley from just inside the box. Last January’s transfer target showed City what they could have had.
After a turgid first half, Mo Belloumi and Kyle Joseph were introduced at the break and within three minutes, Semi Ajayi headed the Tigers level, and they could have won it late on when John Lundstram stepped off the bench to volley over from a couple of yards out.
However, Belloumi fed Gelhardt inside left channel to finish beyond Viktor Johansson and give City another win in the Potteries, and end their two-game losing run in some style.
Jakirovic made three changes from the midweek defeat at home to Ipswich Town, with John Egan, Matt Crooks and Enis Destan returning to the starting XI. Charlie Hughes had a slight hamstring issue and was named on the bench, but not actually involved. Amir Hadziahmetovic and Kyle Joseph dropped to the bench, while there was a long-awaited return for John Lundstram after a nine-game absence. There was no Cody Drameh due to injury.
Despite a decent enough start from the hosts, they should have had a penalty inside the opening 15 minutes when Gelhardt won the ball and surged forward before picking out the run of Crooks, who was hacked down by Ashley Phillips. Referee Leight Doughty signalled the Stoke man got the ball, but he didn’t.
And when your luck is down, it’s really down. The hosts were in front soon after when an Ajayi headed away a corner, and it landed on the foot of in-form Thomas to crash in an unstoppable volley, leaving Pandur with no chance.
Pandur denied the lively Million Manhoef as Stoke continued to pour forward and take advantage of City’s sloppiness on and off the ball.
It took until just before the break for their first attempt on target after their first real sustained period of possession in the Stoke half, with John Egan heading straight at the goalkeeper after a couple of corners in quick succession.
While City will rightly point to a poor decision at 0-0 when they should have been awarded a penalty, they were second best all over the park in a below-par first period in the Potteries gloom.
It was little surprise Jakirovic made a double change at the break with Ndala and Gyabi replaced by Kyle Joseph and Mohamed Belloumi, with Crooks dropping deeper, and those changes had an immediate impact
Giles saw a shot saved and from the corner, Gelhardt’s volley hit Belloumi and found Ajayi to head into the bottom corner. There was a hint of offside and handball about the equaliser, but the goal stood, and City were on terms.
The Tigers were a different side, and Slater, who has fond memories of scoring at Stoke, saw a rasping shot deflect just over. Gelhardt fired in, which Johansson spilt before reacting quickly to deny Belloumi from a tight angle.
Both sides made changes in the 68th minute with Akin Famewo replacing Giles, and Divin Mubama coming on for Bozenik. Junior looked to be carving out the second goal with just over 15 minutes left, until Coyle came flying across with a goal-saving tackle to deny Juninho.
As the game became stretched, Jakirovic brought back Lundstram, along with Amir, in place of Slater and Destan for the final 10 minutes, and the Liverpudlian could have won it when he skied a volley from a couple of yards out.
Manhoef and Pearson were replaced by Sam Gallagher and Steven Nzonzi in the final five minutes, but it was City who snatched the winning goal when Belloumi surged forward to play in Gelhardt, and his crisp finish in front of the away fans turned the game on its head.
City held on through eight minutes of added time, amid ugly scenes at the end as fans were left furious with referee Leigh Doughty. Both Joseph and Lundstram were booked as players and staff clashed from both teams.
Stoke City: Johansson, Tchamadeu, Phillips, Lawal, Cresswell, Seko, Pearson, Junho, Manhoef, Thomas, Bozenik. Subs: Bonham, Wilmot, Talovierov, Bocat, Nzonzi, Rigo, Cisse, Mubama, Gallagher.
Hull City: Pandur, Giles, Egan, Ajayi, Coyle (c), Slater, Gyabi, Crooks, Ndala, Gelhardt, Destan. Subs: Phillips, Hughes, Lundstram, Belloumi, Akintola, Amir, Joseph, Famewo, McCarthy.
Man of the Match: Semi Ajayi
Referee: Leigh Doughty
Attendance: 22,331 (1,374 from Hull City)
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