The Tigers were held on the road at the struggling U’s
Dillon Phillips and Jamie Donley square up to each other(Image: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Hull City were held to a 1-1 draw at struggling Oxford United on Good Friday afternoon, in a game they’ll probably be pleased to escape from with a point.
Mo Belloumi fired the visitors in front after just four minutes with a fine finish after cutting inside from the right flank to mark his first start in 2026. That lead lasted just 10 minutes because Charlie Hughes, back in the side after an error which led to his sending off at West Brom, made another shocker to haul down Will Lankshear and give away a penalty which Cam Brannagan slammed in.
City huffed and puffed in the second period, without ever looking like a massive threat and at the other end, they could have lost it with league debutant Dillon Phillips keeping his side on terms.
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Here’s how Tigers reporter Barry Cooper rated the players at the Kassam Stadium on Good Friday afternoon….
Dillon Phillips: A Championship debut for the experienced goalkeeper in City’s 40th game. Well beaten by Brannagan’s penalty. Made a fine diving save to deny Brannagan early in the second half and again in added time. A good first league start. 8/10
Lewie Coyle: Returned to the starting XI after injury and had a decent first half on the left side and kept at it in the second with his side under pressure. 7/10
Charlie Hughes: Back in the side after his red card at West Brom and wasn’t far off getting another early on. Booked for a reckless lunge on Will Lankshear, which cost City a penalty and their lead. Looked out of sorts and was taken off at the break. 4/10
Semi Ajayi: A sloppy opening before playing a lovely ball out to Belloumi to score the opener. Recovered from that iffy opening and aside from a couple of nervy spells, kept them out. 7/10
Cody Drameh: Couldn’t get a toe on Lankshear before Hughes fouled him inside the box. Got caught out on a couple of occasions, but recovered well. 7/10
Matt Crooks: Not the best start to the afternoon, cheaply giving the ball away in the build-up to the penalty. 5/10
John Lundstram: A rare start against his old club and found it tough against Brannagan and Konak in the middle of the park. Better as it wore on. 6/10
Mo Belloumi: His first league start since Boxing Day and back on the pitch where he did his ACL in November 2024, and was superb in the first half. Scored a fine goal, and came close to another. Such a threat. Got 63 minutes into his legs and a fine display it was for an hour. Everything good went through him. 8/10
Joe Gelhardt: The on-loan forward made his 50th start for the Tigers, but couldn’t really get into the game in the first period, and the same applied in the second before he was withdrawn. 5/10
Kyle Joseph: Struggled to get inton the first period, though he did have one good chance which he forced a good save from the GK. Could perhaps have taken a touch before shooting. Came off in the second. 5/10
Oli McBurnie: Plenty of effort, as usual, but was given almost nothing to work with in the first half. Cut a frustrated figure in the second half. Got nothing from the referee, either. City haven to find a way to create more for him. 6/10
Subs:
John Egan (for Hughes 46): Came off the bench to notch up a half-century of appearances for the Tigers when he replaced Hughes at the start of the second half. 6/10
Lewis Koumas (for Gelhardt 63): Had two good runs down the left before being unable to find the moment of quality with the cross. 5/10
Kieran Dowell (for Belloumi 63): Gave a glimpse of his quality on one or two occasions and won a late corner for his side. 5/10
Liam Millar (for Joseph 82): Never got a chance to go at his full-back after coming on. 5/10
Toby Collyer (for Lundstram 82): Good to see him out on the pitch, and he offered a moment or two of promise. 5/10
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