Hull City Under-21s produced an emphatic performance to record a 5-0 win over Birmingham City at Bishop Burton College.
A hat-trick from Tyrell Sellars-Fleming and goals from Zane Myers and Hugh Parker secured the Tigers all three points in the Professional Development League.
Conor Sellars made four changes to his starting XI to the one that defeated Coventry City 3-0 last time out in the Premier League Cup. Callum Yam replaced Harvey Cartwright in goal, while Stan Ashbee, Harry Vaughan and Sellars-Fleming all came in for Harry Revill, Cameron Gray and Sincere Hall respectively.
Seven minutes into the game, the Tigers took the lead as a great team move that started from Yam saw Noah Wadsworth and Myers link up well on the right flank. The latter in-turn floated a great cross towards the back post for Sellars-Fleming to place his header into the far corner.
Two minutes later, Sellars-Fleming and City got a second as a pinpoint cross from the opposite flank by Calvin Okike found the striker to convert home from close range.
The Tigers would quickly net a third just after quarter of an hour as Wadsworth’s corner was not fully cleared by the Birmingham defence. The ball fell kindly to Myers on the edge of the Birmingham penalty area, with his left-footed strike flying through a crowd of bodies to find the bottom corner.
Yam then saved comfortably at his near post to deny Frank Tattum, before Myers fired over at the other end, following good hold-up play by Sellars-Fleming. Captain Jack Leckie then released Myers, who in-turn teed up Sellars-Fleming to shoot, but his strike was saved by William O’Sullivan.
Birmingham’s Briar Bateman then saw his effort blocked by Leckie before Ashbee headed narrowly wide from Wadsworth’s corner, jumping highest at the back post to reach his delivery.
Three minutes into the second half, the Tigers were awarded a penalty as Sellars-Fleming cooly dispatched his spot-kick with confidence to secure his hat-trick.
Rocco Coyle’s free-kick from range deflected wide off the Birmingham defensive wall before Myers saw his strike blocked, followed by Wadsworth drilling the rebound wide. Vaughan was next to take aim, firing his finish narrowly wide, before Sellars-Fleming saw a left-footed finish blocked by Taylor Dodd.
Heading into the final 10 minutes, City would net a fifth as a neat pass released substitute Parker through on goal. From a tight angle from the left, the Irish striker placed his right-footed finish past an onrushing O’Sullivan to find the far corner and score on his Hull City debut.
Hull City U21s: Yam; Wadsworth, Leckie (C) (Revill 83’), Ashbee, Okike; Shehu, R. Coyle (Dawson 63’); Myers (Hall 83’), Harriman-Annous (Parker 57’), Vaughan; Sellars-Fleming.
Sub Not Used: Foster.
Birmingham City U21s: O’Sullivan; Sanders, Boakye, Dodd, Mazwi; Home (C), Wynne (Pergelov 73’), Isichei (Da Silva 65’); Ruiz-Rente (Briscoe 18’), Bateman, Tattum (Betteka 73’).
Sub Not Used: Sayer.
