Hull City 0-1 Stoke City: FLW report as Potters inflict revenge on Tigers with narrow victory | OneFootball

FLW report live from the MKM Stadium for this New Year's Day clash

Stoke City ended Hull City's five-game unbeaten run with a 1-0 victory at the MKM Stadium on New Year's Day whilst gaining revenge on the Tigers for their last-gasp win in the reverse fixture in November.

After losing their last four away fixtures, Mark Robins' side took maximum points away from East Yorkshire for the fifth-straight season courtesy of Robert Bozenik's first goal for the club in his 19th league outing.

It was an encounter which lacked quality - mainly on Hull's part - with Sergej Jakirovic's side rarely threatening across 107 minutes of action, as they went without scoring for just the fourth time under the Bosnian.

Hull City 0-1 Stoke City

After an extremely flat opening 18 minutes, Bozenik looked to open his account for the Potters, although the Slovakian would end up forcing Ivor Pandur into a smart save with his curling effort from 20 yards.

Four minutes later, Hull's Croatian keeper was eventually tested by Bae Junho, but this effort proved to be way more comfortable, whilst the hosts' first half-chance after 25 minutes saw Kyle Joseph fire an angled shot into the body of Ben Wilmot.

Joseph, again, went in search of his seventh of the season after turning on a low Liam Millar cross and forcing Stoke keeper, Tommy Simkin, into a quick reaction save after appeals for handball against Ash Phillips. The resulting corner saw Charlie Hughes crash an effort against the crossbar before the Spurs loanee was eventually able to clear the danger.

However, Robins' side would take the lead six minutes before the break as Bozenik turned home his first Potters goal with a simple finish at the back post from a fizzing Cisse cross that followed two blocked Junho efforts.

The Slovakian striker was substituted on 54 minutes after a lengthy stoppage which began seconds into the second period, meaning Sorba Thomas' low effort after more neat work from Cisse six minutes later was the half's first opportunity of note.

Hull then mustered two openings just after the hour mark. Firstly, Millar saw a curling effort easily dealt with, before a low cross from the Canadian was turned over the bar from the stretching Oli McBurnie.

Stoke could have put some daylight between themselves and the Tigers two minutes later as Bosun Lawal headed Tomas Rigo's deep corner over the bar from close range.

With eight minutes of normal time remaining, a vital interception from Charlie Hughes denied the visitors another chance to do so as Phillips' bouncing header caused plenty of havoc before Rigo's follow-up strike was turned behind for a corner from the Hull defender.

Hull's below-par display was summed up by the normally reliable Oli McBurnie's tame effort in the final minute of normal time, before Matt Crooks headed over in the second of 17 added minutes owing to two lengthy stoppages.

The Tigers' luck was certainly out five minutes later as substitute Kasey Palmer unleashed a stunning effort which cannoned off the crossbar before McBurnie saw appeals for a penalty on the rebound dismissed by Craig Pawson.

Fellow substitute Enis Destan then saw an acrobatic attempt drift wide in the final minute before Lewie Coyle also fired wayward, as a first defeat in six saw Hull drop to fifth on goal difference, whilst Stoke moved up to ninth.

Player Ratings

Hull City

Ivor Pandur - 6.5

Lewie Coyle - 7

John Egan - 7

Charlie Hughes - 7

Akin Famewo - 6.5 (Palmer 73" - 6.5)

Regan Slater - 7 (Hadziahmetovic 89" - 6)

Matt Crooks - 6.5

Kyle Joseph - 6 (Ndala 46" - 6.5)

Darko Gyabi - 6.5 (Destan 73" - 6)

Liam Millar - 6 (Akintola 89" - 6)

Oli McBurnie - 6.5

Unused Subs: Dillon Phillips, Cathal McCarthy, James Furlong, Stan Ashbee

Stoke City

Tommy Simkin - 7

Makysm Talovierov - 7.5

Ash Phillips - 7.5

Ben Wilmot - 7.5

Ben Gibson - 7.5

Bosun Lawal - 8 (Nzonzi 103" - N/A)

Tomas Rigo - 7 (Seko 96" - 6)

Lamine Cisse- 7 (Manhoef 96" - 6.5)

Bae Junho - 7

Sorba Thomas - 7.5

Robert Bozenik - 7.5 (Gallagher 54" - 6)

Unused Subs: Jack Bonham, Josh Bickerton, Sydney Agina, Favour Fawunmi, Divin Mubama

Sergej Jakirovic reacts as Hull City defeated by Stoke City

Reflecting on a somewhat leggy performance from his side, Jakirovic's instant reaction was: "Especially first half, we didn't play how we wanted.

"A lot of long balls, lots of aerial challenges. I think it was very easy today for Stoke to defend, they put six centre-backs in their defensive line and in the 'number six'.

"They are very tall, and we didn't even try to play in possession with more creativity and ideas in the game," the City boss claimed.

"Maybe, when Charlie (Hughes) hits the crossbar, if we score," he questioned."

"But, I expected this type of game. All game, from what I saw, would be decided on one goal. They use our mistake in open play and score.

"In this situation, I thought it was offside. But, we are dropping down too early without opposition defenders, so we can defend better.

"In the second half, we put every offensive change we have, changed the system and had one good opportunity with McBurnie and the crossbar from Palmer. That's it.

"The game was very long because of the two injuries, unfortunately. At this moment, it is who gets ready more and who has more energy.

"We don't have options," Jakirovic stated. "We are struggling a lot, because it's not easy to replace our best players statistically.

"We don't even have time to analyse the game. We need to find an energy and freshness for the next game (vs Watford)."

Mark Robins reacts as Stoke City victorious at MKM Stadium again

Reflecting on his side's return to winning ways at the MKM, Robins' began: "They're all big wins. But, this one felt particularly big, because of the build-up and the fact we've got an - almost - cobbled-together squad.

"It makes it really challenging. So, brilliant. The players that came in did really well and dealt with their (Hull's) threats, for the most part, really well.

"We should have gone 2-0 up, at least, before their chance" he claimed.

"I've seen Kasey (Palmer) do that. As soon as he checked inside and opened up to hit it, I thought he'd have bent it in the top corner, which would've been a blow to us. But, it somehow stayed out.

"That's the only bit of luck we had for some time," Robins added. "Obviously, 17 minutes added on because, Robert (Bozenik), we've been waiting for him to get his first goal and then his shoulder dislocated.

"That is not great news at all. He was in some discomfort coming off, so he's in hospital and we'll see what the outcome of that is.

"Another blow on top of losing Vik(tor Johansson). It's not looking great, so we've got to wait and see.

"That's, obviously, why we called Tommy (Simkin) back from his loan. He came in and showed the levels of quality and maturity we needed."

Hull City vs Stoke City Attendance

The attendance at the MKM Stadium this afternoon was 23,152.