City could not back up their fine win at Wrexham and delivered an awful display at The Hawthorns
Hull City’s Charlie Hughes was sent off at Albion
Hull City’s play-off bid suffered a big setback at struggling West Brom on Saturday, as the hosts secured their first Championship win of 2026 against 10 men, beating the tepid Tigers 3-0.
The tone for a desperate first half was set when Semi Ajayi gave the ball away, which almost fashioned a chance. That offered Albion encouragement, and they deservedly took a 24th-minute lead when Josh Maja swept home from Jed Wallace’s cross. City had been torn to pieces.
Charlie Hughes was then sent off for hauling back Wallace outside the box, and though it seemed soft, the referee would say he was denying a goalscoring opportunity as the last man.
Any hope of the 10 men finding a way to snatch something was ended when Aune Heggebo guided in with just over 20 minutes of a desperate afternoon to go, and Isaac Price scored the third in added time. The Tigers were hopeless on the afternoon, and got what they deserved, though they’ll point to the sending off as a big turning point.
Jakirovic made three changes from the midweek win at Wrexham, with Lewie Coyle, Semi Ajayi, and the returning Matt Crooks returning to the starting XI. Out went Paddy McNair, Cody Drameh and Amir Hadziahmetovic, dropping to the bench.
There was also a change in system, with City matching up West Brom’s four in midfield by going with a 3-4-1-2 shape. Joe Gelhardt started in the number 10 role behind Lewis Koumas and Oli McBurnie.
It was a shaky start from the visitors, with Ajayi back on his old stomping ground, giving the ball away in the middle of the park and one ball through needed Pandur out quickly to clear. Jed Wallace then teased in a cross right through the box, which evaded Heggebo.
Pandur was then forced into a smart save to deny Danny Imray and then Maja headed wide from Wallace’s cross, with all that coming inside a frantic opening six minutes, with the hosts roared on by a raucous home crowd.
It was little surprise when the hosts deservedly took the lead after 24 minutes when Wallace’s cross from the right was swept home by Josh Maja.
City were all over the place, and their first half went from bad to worse when Hughes got stuck in treacle and dragged Wallace back, who didn’t need encouragement to go down. The ball was running through to Pandur inside right channel, but referee Smith was straight out with his red card.
Cody Drameh came on for Millar, and just before the break, Coyle was hurt in a challenge and had to be replaced by Amir, with Slater moving to right back.
The Tigers, a man down, were struggling to make anything of note in the final third. McBurnie was booked after Diakite fell over and handballed it. That could have been avoided had he booked the Albion man straight away, instead of waiting an age.
Goalkeeper O’Leary was hurt after being caught by Egan, and was replaced by Josh Griffiths, while Diakite came off with Jamaldeeb Jimoh-Aloba on in his place with 25 minutes left.
Almost immediately, the Baggies did get the second goal they craved with Jimoh-Aloba’s cross for Aune Heggebo to divert into the net and ensure they could enjoy the closing stages.
Belloumi, Joseph, and Lundstram were sent on for Gelhardt, Crooks and Koumas with just over 15 minutes left. Isaac Price turned in deep into added time to add further gloss to a dominant display.
This was as poor as City had been on the road since Bristol City way back at the start of the season, and they’ll need to summon a response against Sheffield Wednesday next Saturday.
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West Brom: O’Leary, Imray, Campbell, Phillips, Styles, Wallace (c), Molumby, Diakite, Price, Maja, Heggebo. Subs: Griffiths, Gilchrist, Taylor, Mowatt, Jimoh-Aloba, Whitwell, Dike, Mustapha, Bostock.
Hull City: Pandur, Hughes, Egan, Ajayi, Millar, Coyle, Crooks, Slater, Gelhardt, Koumas, McBurnie. Subs: Phillips, Belloumi, McNair, Drameh, Amir, Lundstram, Joseph, Collyer, McCarthy.
Referee: Josh Smith
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