The Tigers delivered a flat display to lose at home to the Potters in a Championship clash on New Year’s Day
Hull City’s wretched home record against Stoke City continued into 2026 with the Potters claiming a scrappy 1-0 win to make it five consecutive MKM Stadium victories, ending the Tigers’ five-game unbeaten run.
Robert Bozenik tapped in unmarked at the back post to open the scoring for the Potters just before the break, against what had been a lacklustre City outfit in the opening 45 minutes.
After their exploits at Middlesbrough, and with a growing injury list, City looked leggy and lethargic throughout a drab contest with the second half interrupted by two lengthy breaks for treatment.
Jakirovic was forced into one change with Ryan Giles unavailable through the hamstring injury he picked up after just three minutes at Middlesbrough, with him expected to miss much of January. Liam Millar and Oli McBurnie returned to the starting line-up, with Joel Ndala the other to drop out.
Amid ongoing transfer talk, Cody Drameh was not included in the matchday squad, but there was a place for James Furlong after the EFL approved his registration.
There was a big pre-match blow for the Potters with the news that goalkeeper Viktor Johansson was out with a shoulder injury and they recalled England Under-20 goalkeeper Tommy Simkin from Leyton Orient. He was thrust straight into the starting line-up.
It was probably the quietest opening 18 minutes of the season with both sets of fans struggling to keep themselves awake from the previous night’s festivities, but it was the visitors who almost aroused them from their slumber with a swift break which allowed Robert Bozenik to volley towards the bottom corner, diverted wide by the left hand of Ivor Pandur.
Pandur was forced into another fairly routine save to deny Junho, who was seeing plenty of the ball with the visitors settling the quicker of the two sides. Amid a flurry of fouls in a scrappy start, Matt Crooks collected his ninth caution of the season.
Just before the half-hour, City almost hit the front when Slater’s corner almost found its way in at the near post, and it came out to Hughes, who fired off the bar, before the ball was deflected away and Stoke were able to get away without any further damage.
The Potters, who had lost their last four on the road, were a goal in front just over five minutes before the break when Cisse’s effort across the six-yard box was tapped in at the back post by Bozenik.
Joel Ndala was introduced at the start of the second half in place of Joseph, and barely a minute had been played before Bozenik went down and, after a lengthy stoppage of a good nine minutes, was stretchered off. He was replaced by Sam Gallagher.
City carved out a half chance just before the hour when Millar fired over a ball to McBurnie at the back post, but on the slide, he could only divert wide. Junho was then booked for a rugged challenge on Coyle.
Kasey Palmer and Enis Destan were both brought on in place of Gyabi and Famewo with 73 on the clock amid another lengthy stoppage while Coyle received treatment.
Ndala was booked for dragging back Gallagher, who strangely had beaten him for pace down the left flank as City continued to toil, and then Coyle hooked off his own line with Stoke inches away from a second.
With the game passing them by and Stoke looking more like scoring a second than a home equaliser, Jakirovic withdrew Slater and Millar with David Akintola and Amir Hadziahmetovic coming on after 88 minutes, before 17 minutes were added on.
Maksym Talkovierov was cautioned for cleaning out Ndala before Cisse was replaced by Million Manhoef Rigo by Tatsuki Seko.
City thought they’d got a point when Palmer’s rasping drive cannoned off the underside of the bar but didn’t cross the line. With 102 minutes on the clock, Lawal was replaced by Nzonzi, and despite a huge chunk of added time, the Potters claimed their annual MKM Stadium victory.
Hull City (4-3-3): Pandur, Famewo, Hughes, Egan, Coyle (c), Slater, Crooks, Gyabi, Joseph, Millar, McBurnie: Subs: Dillon Phillips, Akintola, Ndala, Amir, Furlong, Destan, Ashbee, Palmer, McCarthy.
Stoke City: Simkin, Talovierov, Gibson, Phillips, Wilmot, Lawal, Rigo, Junho, Cisse, Thomas, Bozenik. Subs: Bonham, Bickerton, Agina, Seko, Nzonzi, Manhoef, Fawunmi, Gallagher, Mubama
Referee: Craig Pawson
Man of the Match: Darko Gyabi
Attendance: 23,152 (2,300 approx away)
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