City eventually overcame a plucky Owls’ side to return to winning ways
Hull City forward Oliver McBurnie celebrates
Hull City recovered from being a goal down to overpower bottom side Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 at the MKM Stadium, to go into the international break on the back of a 10th home win of the season and remain firmly in the play-off mix.
Against a hapless City defence, the Owls took a 23rd-minute lead when Jamal Lowe poked home after the Tigers failed to clear a simple ball into the box. Their response was immediate, though, with Matt Crooks sweeping home from a rare one-touch move. Sergej Jakirovic’s men continued to play like they were running in treacle, with the visitors carrying a greater threat and proving to be as awkward as they were on Boxing Day in Sheffield.
Crucially for the Tigers, Paddy McNair’s superb free-kick into the box at the end of the first half was turned his own net by Dominic Iorfa, to give City the lead at the break and ease the nerves around the MKM Stadium.
Despite a low-key start to the second period City gradually assumed control and got the third goal they needed when McBurnie fed Joseph to slot into the bottom corner.
Jakirovic made three changes from the side that thumped at West Brom last weekend, with Paddy McNair coming in to replace Lewie Coyle, and was deployed at left-back. Kyle Joseph came into the side at the expense of the suspended Charlie Hughes, with City reverting to their more familiar 4-3-3 formation, and in came Cody Drameh on the right side of the back four for Lewis Koumas who dropped to the bench.
After a quiet first 10 minutes, Millar’s tenacity by the Owls’ corner flag saw him win the ball and feed McBurnie inside the box, but Pierce Charles was out quickly to smother the shot.
The game burst into life after the 20-minute mark when, typically, schoolboy defending from City allowed Jamal Lowe to prod in after the hosts failed to deal with a free-kick into their box, as we’ve seen so often this season.
City responded straight from the kick-off with some slick forward passing which saw Joseph in space on the right and cross for Crooks to slide home and haul the hosts back on terms.
Defensively, though, City were all over the place. Every time the ball went near their 18-yard box, they looked tentative and indecisive, which gave the visitors added hope.
After a meaty challenge, skipper for the afternoon Regan Slater became the latest casualty when he had to limp off on the half-hour mark, replaced by John Lundstram. The away fans took that opportunity to boo both, given their Blades connections.
City continued to struggle, with their defence looking hesitant and uncertain. Wednesday were finding all sorts of space, and came close to getting back in front when Jarvis Thornton’s shot was well saved by Pandur, who moments earlier had come flying out for a ball that Egan allowed to bounce and ended up flat on his face. The Irishman was booked a little later for a rash challenge in the middle of the park, after the Owls had easily played through a rather tame press.
There was a huge sigh of relief on the stroke of half-time when McNair’s wonderful delivery from a free-kick was glanced into his own net by Dominic Iorfa, to turn the game on its head. Make no mistake about it, though, this was every bit as stodgy and uncomfortable for the hosts as it sounds.
Early in the second period, with City again looking jaded and disjointed, Crooks collected his weekly card for clearing out Iorfa in the middle of the Tigers’ half.
Moments after McBurnie was furious for not getting a foul in the middle of the park, he turned provider for Joseph to calmly slot into the corner with a well-taken finish, and give the hosts the breathing space they needed.
Owls boss Henrik Pedersen made a double change just after the hour, with Charlie McNeil and Max Lowe coming on for Thornton and Tayo Adaramola, moments before Gelhardt had the ball in the net only to see an erected offside flag.
Jakirovic made his first changes 22 minutes from time when Amir came on for Millar and Lewis Koumas for Gelhardt, closely followed by Joel Ndala’s return, when he replaced Lowe. Kieran Dowell and Mo Belloumi were introduced for the final 10 minutes in place of Crooks and the excellent Joseph.
Belloumi forced a good save from Charles in the final stages, as City looked to add more to their tally, before hitting the post in added time. Eventually, after a sticky opening, this was a job well done and safely navigated by the Tigers, and now they can go into the final break of the season firmly in contention and a play-off place in their own hands.
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Hull City: Pandur, McNair, Egan, Ajayi, Drameh, Slater, Crooks, Joseph, Millar, Gelhardt, McBurnie. Subs: Phillips, Amir, Belloumi, Koumas, Collyer, McCarthy, Lundstram, Dowell, Coyle.
Sheffield Wednesday: Charles, Fusire, Palmer (c), Iorfa, Otegbayo, Adaramola, Heskey, Thornton, Ingelsson, J Lowe, Yates. Subs: Stretch, McGhee, M Lowe, Chalobah, Nakamba, Ndala, McNeill, Grainger, Ugbo.
Referee: Dean Whitestone
Attendance: 22.004 (2,230 from South Yorkshire)
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