The Tigers fell to defeat in the East Midlands on Tuesday evening
Hull City’s six-game unbeaten run came to an end at Pride Park in dramatic fashion, losing 2-1 to Derby County despite fighting back from a goal down at the break.
Despite a decent enough opening 25 minutes, the Tigers found themselves behind through in-form striker Carlton Morris, who powered in a near-post header having climbed above Semi Ajayi.
City were level early in the second half when Regan Slater slid across for Joel Ndala to bundle him from close range, and it looked like they could snatch the victory, until Lars-Jorgen Salvensen scored into an empty net after Ivor Pandur had slipped outside his box with five minutes to go.
Still without a host of key players, including Oli McBurnie and John Lundstram, Jakirovic made two changes from the weekend win at Norwich City, with Cody Drameh and Semi Ajayi replacing Lewie Coyle and Amir Hadziahmetovic, who both dropped to the bench.
City had to withstand early home pressure but grew into the contest and fashioned their first opening just before the quarter-hour when Crooks rattled the bar from the edge of the box with a rasping drive after playing a neat one-two with Regan Slater.
The visitors had settled well and were playing some enterprising stuff, without testing the goalkeeper and at the other end, the Rams hit the front. Hughes made two belting blocks deep inside his box; the first was especially brilliant when facing both Morris and Agyemang, but from the third corner, the Tigers’ resistance was broken.
Morris, fresh from his hat-trick at Sheffield United, got on the back of Ajayi to power in a header at the near post, and the Rams’ set-piece threat was apparent once again.
The first half was fairly tepid stuff with the Rams looking a threat from their barrage of long throws and corners, but the Tigers were struggling to play through the Rams’ high line and lacked a real goal threat, aside from Crooks’ effort off the bar.
Pandur had his first save to make at the start of the second half after Gelhardt had cheaply given it away inside his own box, but the Tigers surged forward and were almost level when Gelhardt slid in Crooks and his goalbound effort was beaten away by Zetterstrom.
The leveller did come moments later with Slater bursting forward and sliding across for Ndala to run onto, and eventually, amid a tangle with a defender and the goalkeeper, he scooped over the line.
City were dominant, as if it was a different game. Slater saw a drive blocked as they pushed for the second, but at the other end, Pandur was eased out of the box with the ball and on play went despite the home crowd becoming a tad narked with referee Stephen Martin.
Rhian Brewster was Derby’s first change for Agyemang with just over 20 minutes to play and that was closely followed by Darko Gyabi coming on for Ndala, who was so much more positive in the second period and got his goal.
Andi Weimann and Ebou Adams were sent on in the final 15 minutes for Derby, replacing Chile’s Ben Brereton-Diaz and David Ozoh, closely followed by Enis Destan and David Akintola for Joseph and Gelhardt and then Lars-Jorgen Salvesen replaced Morris with 10 to play.
Instantly, Salvesen scored into an empty net when Pandur came out, slipped, and his clearance went straight to the new arrival to plug straight home. Amir Hadziahmetovic replaced Egan for the final moments, but City’s poor record at Pride Park continued as their fine run came to an end. They’ll be hoping to bounce back at home to Portsmouth on Saturday.
Derby County: Zetterstrom, Clarke, Langas, Agyemang, Morris (c), Ozoh, Elder, Ward, Brereton-Diaz, Sanderson, Clark. Subs: Vickers, Forsyth, Batth, Brewster, Blackett-Taylor, Weimann, Salvesen, Jackson, Adams.
Hull City: Pandur, Giles, Egan, Hughes, Ajayi, Drameh, Crooks, Slater, Gelhardt, Ndala, Joseph. Subs: Phillips, Coyle, Akintola, Amir, Famewo, Gyabi, Destan, Brown, McCarthy.
Referee: Stephen Martin
Man of the Match: Regan Slater
Attendance: 26,391 (around 1,830 from Hull City)
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