Southampton 1-2 Hull City: FLW report as Tigers move back into play-off places with double vs Saints | OneFootball

FLW report from St Mary's for this Championship fixture

Hull City moved back into the Championship play-off places with a 2-1 victory over Southampton at St Mary's.

After falling to seventh after their encounter with Watford was postponed, Sergej Jakirovic's side climbed up to fifth through a controlled performance and a 'double' over the Saints.

They found themselves 2-0 up at the break through a smart Kyle Joseph finish after 20 minutes, before Charlie Hughes powered home his first of the season with a smart header from a corner.

Although Ross Stewart gave Tonda Eckert's side a glimmer of hope with 19 minutes remaining, a depleted City squad did enough to secure a crucial victory which was met by a chorus of boos from Southampton's supporters at full-time.

Southampton 1-2 Hull City

After a bizzare interruption from the St Mary's PA system, it was the visitors who looked to make their positive start count, with Liam Millar drawing Daniel Peretz into a smart save from a close-range header.

Ivor Pandur was forced into action for the first time after 10 minutes, turning Adam Armstrong's effort behind after Taylor Harwood-Bellis advanced into Hull territory. Saints then squandered three golden chances to take the lead five minutes later as Caspar Jander was thwarted twice, with Finn Azaz somehow turning the final rebound wide from five yards out.

City's shot-stopper then produced another fine save as Harwood-Bellis tried his luck with a fierce 20-yard drive, before the visitors seized the initiative on the 20-minute mark as Manning's error handed McBurnie possession, who found Joseph in space as the Scot bent his seventh of the season past Peretz.

Looking for an immediate response, Eckert's side saw efforts from Tom Fellows, Harwood-Bellis, Azaz and Leo Scienza well marshalled by the Hull rearguard. However, the visitors would go on to double their lead 11 minutes before the break.

Crooks saw his initial effort diverted behind for a corner which Hughes powered home from Hadziahmetovic's pinpoint delivery, much to the anger of the home crowd, who made their immediate feelings known.

Developments then got slightly heated on the stroke of half-time as Liam Millar initially fell inside the box under Flynn Downes' presence as penalty appeals were dismissed by Samuel Allison, who subsequently booked Hughes in the next stage of play for a late challenge on Scienza as Saints looked to counter.

The first chance of the second period saw Armstrong fail to generate the required accuracy with a wayward header from a cross by Southampton's Brazilian winger, before the experienced striker fired a half-volley over the crossbar from 18 yards out.

Joseph then went in search of his second of the game, although in what was his final action before being replaced, the Scottish forward's low drive was blocked by Saints substitute, Elias Jelert.

A succession of corners for the hosts around the hour-mark came to no avail, with the last of those seeing a deft touch from Jelert easily gathered by Pandur, before Lewie Coyle came close to a third for the Tigers as his deflected effort looped just wide.

Yet after a period of further chants aimed towards ownership group, Sport Republic, Saints fans were given encouragement with 19 minutes to go as Stewart poked a pinpoint Scienza cross from close range after getting inbetween Hughes and John Egan.

Whilst Saints continued to dominate possession, Hull would do enough to withstand their pressure as Scienza fired an audacious strike off-target in the final minute of normal time.

However, the Tigers did enough to hold on for all three points, as they now sit fifth, whilst Saints remain 15th on 33 points.

FT: Southampton 1-2 Hull City

Player Ratings

Southampton

Daniel Peretz - 5.5

Taylor Harwood-Bellis - 6.5

Nathan Wood - 6.5

Joshua Quarshie - 6 (Jelert 46" - 6.5)

Tom Fellows - 6.5 (Robinson 67" - 6)

Flynn Downes - 6.5

Caspar Jander - 7 (Matsuki 77" - 6)

Ryan Manning - 6 (Archer 89" - N/A)

Finn Azaz - 7 (Stewart 66" - 7)

Leo Scienza - 7.5

Adam Armstrong - 6

Unused Subs: A.McCarthy, J.Stephens, B.Williams, Welington

Hull City

Ivor Pandur - 7

Lewie Coyle - 6.5 (Ndala 75" - 6)

Charlie Hughes - 8

John Egan - 6.5

Akin Famewo - 6.5 (McCarthy 46" - 6.5)

Matt Crooks - 7

Regan Slater - 7.5

Kyle Joseph - 7.5 (Jacob 54" - 6.5)

Amir Hadziahmetovic - 8 (Akintola 89" - N/A)

Liam Millar - 7 (Lundstram 75" - 6)

Oli McBurnie - 7.5

Unused Subs: D.Phillips, J.Debayo, K.Palmer, H.Parker

Tonda Eckert reacts as Southampton defeated by Hull City

Reacting to his side's defeat against the Tigers, Eckert said: "There's two stories to the game.

"I think you can see the amount of chances that there are on one hand, and on the other hand, if you look at that part, there only needs to be one winner. But, the reality is a different one.

"Very cheap goals, both of them. I don't think we should be conceding two goals at home, but there were still plenty of chances, even at 2-0 down, for us to win the game, and we didn't," he claimed.

When asked about the array of missed chances from Saints, he added: "It's not really taking us anywhere. The story is the same.

"In all the games there is the chance for us to be 2-0 up or 3-0 up and everything becomes easy. But, football games don't always have that storyline.

"They are different at times, and it's down to us to manage different flows of a game.

"Even though we don't want to go down in games, the game is still there for the taking."

Sergej Jakirovic reacts as Hull City record double over Southampton

After his side's return to the top six with a crucial victory on the South Coast, Jakirovic's post-match thoughts were: "It was a very difficult game for us. Especially before the game, we had a lot of problems with 11 injuries.

"Even during this game, we lost Akin (Famewo), Kyle (Joseph) and Coyle from a 50/50, so god knows who will play on Tuesday (vs Preston)," he stated.

"But, we are very happy. Congratulations to the lads because, tactically, we were good. Maybe Southampton deserved one goal in the first half, especially after 20 minutes when they didn't score from corners or the good action from (Adam) Armstrong which Ivor (Pandur) saved.

"We then scored our chances. Second half, I expected more risks from Southampton. But, we controlled everything," the Bosnian claimed.

"Maybe we could defend the goal (better). I must see it another time because it's one player inside, and we had two or three, and we must have control there.

"Until the end, they tried something (to equalise) with substitutions. But, in the end, we took three points."

Attendance

The attendance at St Mary's this afternoon was 27,117.