City were beaten again by the Robins, who gave their play-off hopes a major boost
Ross McCrorie celebrates with Adam Randell at the MKM Stadium as John Egan and Charlie Hughes show their frustration(Image: Greig Cowie/Shutterstock)
Hull City missed the chance to close the gap on the top two with a 3-2 home defeat to Bristol City, who responded to their 5-0 thrashing last time out with a deserved away win that leaves the Tigers to reflect on a second defeat of 2026.
Oli McBurnie’s terrific finish after 25 minutes gave City the lead somewhat against the run of play. That changed within six minutes before the break when the Robins scored twice through Rob Atkinson and Ross McCrorie, both poor goals to concede.
City were cut to pieces early in the second half when Emil Riis slotted in the net, but hope was restored in the closing stages when Kieran Dowell powered in to give his side some late hope.
Despite that late rally, the hosts were left to face up to a second home game this week where they’ve dropped points and been well below par.
In truth, despite McBurnie’s opener and the late hope, the Tigers again failed to deliver just as they did in the midweek stalemate against Watford, dropping more points at home.
Jakirovic made four changes from the draw with Watford, with Paddy McNair coming in for his debut. There were also returns to the starting line-up for Ryan Giles, John Lundstram and Kyle Joseph. That meant a change in shape with City going 3-5-2 with Giles and skipper Lewie Coyle playing wing-backs, and Joseph up front alongside Oli McBurnie. Toby Collyer was also named in his first Tigers squad.
Clearly determined to rouse the crowd early, City were quick out of the blocks with Giles and Coyle firing in early crosses to the away side’s box, before Giles fizzed a first-time volley into the box which Radek Vitek could only beat down at his back post and collect at the second attempt.
The away side gradually quelled that early fizz and should have opened the scoring eight minutes in when John Egan couldn’t stop Emil Riis running away, but his shot was tame and straight at Pandur, who made a smart save. Very reminiscent of the chance Riis scored against City at Ashton Gate early in the season, when he picked the pocket of Charlie Hughes on that day.
City continued to struggle in the middle of the park, giving the ball away cheaply again, with the visitors dominating the contest, but it was the hosts who took the lead against the run of play. A neat bit of play got them out of trouble, and after a neat one-two inside the box with Regan Slater, McBurnie slipped his man and fired underneath Vitek. The relief around the MKM Stadium was palpable.
Despite that goal seeming to settle the Tigers, it was Bristol City who got back on terms via the head of Rob Atkinson, stooping to head in a corner 10 minutes before the break, and it started a six-minute turnaround.
McNair saw a shot saved before more hapless defending allowed the visitors to race into the box, Horvat should have scored before City failed to clear, and Ross McCrorie powered in the top corner from eight yards. Turnaround complete and deserved, in truth.
Jakirovic made a double change at the break, with Giles and Joseph replaced by Millar and Lewis Koumas, and though they started the second period brightly, the game was put to bed from a swift counter after Lundstram saw a shot blocked on the edge of the box.
City were cut to pieces with alarming ease, and unlike in the first half, Emil Riis wasn’t going to pass up the chance to slot in the third. Defending reminiscent of what we saw at Ashton Gate.
Play was stopped for a period, when the MKM’s resident squirrel had some fun on the pitch, going into each net to big cheers, even out-foxing Pandur and going into the back of the net, before squirrelling away up the Chris Chilton Stand and away. ‘We want our squirrel back’ was the call from the North Stand.
Kieran Dowell and Matty Jacob were introduced 25 minutes from time in place of Lundstram and Egan. Toby Collyer was given his debut with 15 minutes to go, and things were made interesting with just over 10 minutes to go when Dowell thumped in from close range.
Ten minutes of added time for the squirrel’s interruptions failed to yield a chance of note. A second defeat in 12 games, and a second at home early in 2026. City remains in a terrific position, but the last two home games will have left some disappointment, and a case of what might have been.
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Hull City: Pandur, Giles (Millar 46), McNair (Collyer 75), Hughes, Egan (Jacob 65), Coyle, Slater, Lundstram (Dowell 65), Gelhardt, Joseph (Koumas 46), McBurnie. Subs: Phillips, Collyer, Koumas, Jacob, Amir, Millar, Dowell, McCarthy, Famewo.
Bristol City: Vitek, Tanner (Eile 90), Dickie (c), Atkinson, McCrorie (Sykes 70), Randell, Morsy (Williams 79), Borges, Twine, Horvat, Riis (Armstrong 70). Subs: Lumley, Pring, Eile, Sykes, Williams, Earthy, Bell, Burgzorg, Armstrong.
Referee: Oliver Langford
Attendance: 20,848 (around 700 from Bristol City)
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