Hull City returned from the international break with a late 2-1 defeat against Southampton.
Liam Delap’s finish cancelled out Will Smallbone’s opener before Ryan Fraser netted in the 95th-minute to see Southampton secure all three points at the MKM Stadium.
Head Coach Liam Rosenior made two changes to his starting XI to the one that faced Millwall prior to the international break. Rúben Vinagre came in to replace Sean McLoughlin, while Jason Lokilo started ahead of Adama Traoré.
Before kick-off, both teams observed a minute’s silence for the innocent victims in Gaza and Israel.
The first clear-cut chance of the game fell to the visitors as Smallbone took aim from range, with his effort taking a wicked deflection. However, a strong hand from Ryan Allsop turned the shot over the bar for a Southampton corner. At the other end, Liam Delap drove into the area with a strong run, but his effort at the near post was saved by Gavin Bazunu.
On the 21st-minute, the visitors took the lead as Kyle Walker-Peters evaded the best efforts of Philogene to square the ball across for Smallbone to convert into the bottom corner.
The Tigers equalised four minutes later as Tyler Morton lobbed the ball across for Lokilo. The winger teed up the overlapping run of Cyrus Christie, with the right-back in-turn drilling a low cross across the penalty area. Jaden Philogene saw his initial shot saved by Bazunu but Delap was on hand to fire home the rebound.
Minutes later, City searched for the lead as Philogene saw his dipping drive pushed around the post by Bazunu before Delap saw his volley blocked from the resulting corner. From a short free-kick routine, Scott Twine’s shot was comfortably held by Bazunu before Walker-Peters’ effort was deflected over the bar as the first half drew to a close.
In the second half, Lokilo’s finish hit the side netting while Stuart Armstong’s attempt curled wide past Allsop’s right-hand post. Saints’ captain Adam Armstrong saw his effort blocked by City skipper Jacob Greaves before Allsop produced a brilliant one-handed low save to flick Carlos Alcaraz’s volley wide of the target.
Possession
57%Shots
18Shots On Target
5Corners
9Fouls
144
0
Cards
3
0
With an hour played, Morton threaded a great through ball for Delap, but Bazunu did well to deny the Manchester City loanee one-on-one as the striker looked to take it around the onrushing goalkeeper.
Stuart Armstrong had a great opportunity to put the visitors ahead in the latter stages of the game as the Saints won the ball high up the pitch, but the midfielder’s shot flew over the bar.
Allsop saved late to deny Smallbone his brace with a diving save as the midfielder was teed up in the Tigers’ penalty area before Alfie Jones blocked a strike in stoppage-time. Substitute Allahyar Sayyadmanesh drilled a low shot wide of the target before Southampton scored in the fifth minute of injury-time. A cross from the right was fired home by Ryan Fraser.
Attendance: 21,524
Hull City: Allsop, Christie (Coyle 65'), Jones, Greaves, Vinagre, Seri, Morton, Lokilo (Connolly 76'), Twine (Tufan 65'), Philogene, Delap (Sayyadmanesh 82')
Subs: Ingram, McLoughlin, Docherty, Traoré, Sinik
Southampton: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Manning, Smallbone (Charles 88'), Downes, Stuart Armstrong (Fraser 84'), Adam Armstrong (Mara 88'), Alcaraz (Adams 69'), Sulemana (Edozie 69')
Subs: McCarthy, Holgate, Aribo, Bree
Watch extended highlights of Hull City 1-2 Southampton on Tigers+
