The Tigers deservedly ran out winners against Phil Parkinson’s side
Oli McBurnie marked his return from injury with a goal as Hull City returned to winning ways with a deserved 2-0 victory over Wrexham at the MKM Stadium to move back into the top six.
A dominant display from Sergej Jakirovic’s men was worthy of the three points to end a two-game losing run at home, and in the process end Wrexham’s nine-game unbeaten run.
Having struggled to keep the backdoor closed, the clean sheet, just a fourth in their 20 games, will be a huge boost to boss Sergej Jakirovic in his bid to tighten up the league’s second leakiest defence.
City got the quick start they’d been looking for when Kyle Joseph turned in from close range after Matt Crooks’ shot was saved from Mo Belloumi’s mazy run.
Goalkeeper Ivor Pandur denied Kieffer Moore from the penalty spot in the second half before Oli McBurnie scored on his return after a nine-game absence, turning in Ryan Giles’ terrific cross to finally turn the Tigers’ dominance into clear daylight and see them move back into the top six.
Jakirovic made four changes to the side beaten 4-1 by Middlesbrough on Friday night, with Charlie Hughes, Darko Gyabi, Joel Ndala and Mo Belloumi all coming back into the starting XI at the expense of John Egan, Amir Hadziahmetovic, Joe Gelhardt and Enis Destan. Gelhardt was ruled out with a calf injury, which is expected to keep him sidelined for a period of time. Destan was not involved in the matchday squad with youngsters Hugh Parker and Cathal McCarthy.
On the front foot early, Ndala fed a cross over which was met by Belloumi, who tried an acrobatic overhead kick, but it fell into the path of Coyle, racing onto it to shoot over the bar under pressure inside two minutes.
The Tigers’ bright start was rewarded after 10 minutes when they hit the front. Belloumi’s menacing run into the box saw him roll it back to the on-rushing Crooks who saw a shot saved by Arthur Okonkwo, but Joseph was there to turn over the line from close range.
A typical City calamity at the back should have seen the visitors level shortly after when Coyle and Crooks made a hash of a cross, and it fell to Moore, who dragged wide from eight yards centre of goal.
Going forward, Ndala was causing all sorts of problems, but at the back, the hosts were looking jittery. Their continued insistence on giving the ball away was a contributing factor to Wrexham gaining serious encouragement. Belloumi was a constant menace, his ball finding Crooks to feed Ndala but he turned over from close range. Slater then saw a shot beaten away before another chance came and went.
Callum Doyle was introduced at the break for the visitors, but it was City who should have again doubled their lead. Giles raced away down the left and fizzed over a cross that evaded Joseph. Belloumin mopped up well to tee up Coyle, who shot wide.
Crooks was penalised for a foul on Broadhead inside the box just before the hour, but Pandur came to his rescue when he guessed right to save Moore’s penalty kick. City felt they should have had a penalty of their own for handball. Nothing was given, aside from a yellow card to the bench for their protestations.
On came Liam Millar and Oli McBurnie just after the hour, replacing Ndala and Joseph to a huge roar from the home supporters and that roar was even louder moments later when Giles’ cross was poked in by McBurnie at the near post. That double act is back together again.
Josh Windass was thrown on for Wrexham, while on came David Akintola for the excellent Belloumi. Former Tiger Ryan Longman and Sam Smith were then thrust on with 13 minutes to go, in place of Moore and Barnett. Matty James replaced Sheaf and City could have had three but Okonkwo made a fine save to deny Akintola.
This was a deserved victory for the Tigers and one that secures a sixth home victory, eclipsing last season’s measly total of just five MKM Stadium wins.
Hull City: Pandur, Giles, Hughes, Ajayi, Coyle (c), Slater, Ndala (Millar 62), Crooks, Gyabi (Amir 82), Belloumi (Akintola 70), Joseph. (McBurnie 62) Subs: Phillips, Egan, Millar, Parker, McCarthy, McBurnie, Famewo, Akintola, Amir.
Wrexham: Okonkwo; Cleworth, Scarr (Doyle 46), Hyam; Barnett (Longman 77), Dobson (Windass 69), Sheaf (James 83), Thomason, McClean; Broadhead, Moore (Smith 77). Subs: Burton, Doyle, Longman, James, Rathbone, O’Brien, Windass, Smith, Hardie.
Referee: Andrew Kitchen
Man of the Match: Mo Belloumi
Attendance: 19,464 (around 500 from Wrexham)
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