Tyler Smith’s second-half brace gave a young Hull City team victory in a behind-closed-doors pre-season friendly against Brighton & Hove Albion’s Under-23s.
Played in glorious sunshine at the Marbella Football Centre, Smith had the first chance on 26 minutes as he pounced on a stray back-pass but keeper James Beadle blocked with his legs.
Jevon Mills glanced a header wide from Brandon Fleming’s inswinging corner, while Albion’s Jack Spong hit the side-netting and Zak Emmerson headed straight at David Robson.
There was a flurry of chances as half-time approached.
Mills’ towering header from Andy Cannon’s corner was kept out one-handed by Beadle, Mallik Wilks headed Fleming’s fizzing cross over from close range and the latter curled a free-kick wide.
The pressure cranked up after the break as stopper Killian Cahill, on for the second half, parried Wilks’ fierce 20-yard drive before batting away Harry Wood’s long-range strike.
Randell Williams jinked into the box but his low shot was kicked away by Cahill before the breakthrough came on 69 minutes.
Wood regained possession in Brighton territory and slid in Wilks, whose placed effort was kept out by the right foot of Cahill, but an alert Smith followed up to tab home.
Smith’s near-post drive was repelled by Cahill, but not long after Marc Leonard fired a good chance over, the 22-year-old had his second with nine to play.
The frontman raced onto Mills’ excellent clipped ball over the top, checked inside his man and coolly stroked left footed past the keeper.
Cameron Peupion pulled one back four minutes from time, curling into the far corner after some patient build-up play, but the Tigers were able to maintain their advantage.
Hull City (3-4-3): Robson; Mills, McLoughlin, A Smith; Leake (Jarvis 46’), Cannon, Covil (Wood 46’), Fleming; Wilks, T Smith, Williams.