Hull City 1-3 QPR: FLW report as Rangers add to Tigers' recent woes with convincing success | OneFootball

FLW report from the MKM Stadium for this Championship fixture

Hull City saw their promotion hopes take another blow at the MKM Stadium, as Sergej Jakirovic's side lost 3-1 to Queens Park Rangers.

The visitors took the lead midway through the first half as Paddy McNair turned a Harvey Vale corner into his own net, only for Joe Gelhardt to equal the score 17 minutes later with a simple finish.

However, the hosts would be put to the sword in the past 10 minutes as Daniel Bennie unleashed a rocket into the top of the net with five minutes to go, before Richard Kone put further gloss on a convincing win for Julien Stephan's side in HU3.

Hull City 1-3 Queens Park Rangers

It was a fast start from the Tigers, with Liam Millar going close inside three minutes as the Canadian drifted infield to curl an effort narrowly wide of Joe Walsh's left-hand post.

They were very nearly caught out on the break nine minutes later though, as Ryan Giles was caught in a one-versus-three defensive situation, before Kone's square pass for Koki Saito was overcooked as the Japanese collided with Ivor Pandur.

From the following Hull attack, Gelhardt headed over from close range after Yu Hirakawa was able to burst down the Rangers right.

However, the visitors were in front midway through the first period as Vale's corner was poorly defended by City, with McNair turning into his own net amid a scramble of bodies inside the penalty box.

Oli McBurnie looked to draw the Tigers level on the half-hour mark, but his acrobatic effort lacked the accuracy and power required to have Walsh worried inbetween the sticks. Pandur then made a key save to stop Rhys Norrington-Davies from doubling the Hoops' advantage with a fizzing strike across goal.

The hosts then drew level on 39 minutes as Hirakawa got the better of the Welshman before a mix-up between Walsh and Ronnie Edwards allowed Gelhardt the chance to turn home his first goal for two months.

City looked to complete the turnaround inside the opening minute of the second period, with McBurnie's blocked effort rebounding into Regan Slater's path, but the midfielder saw his strike deflected behind.

Walsh then pulled off a fine save to stop Lewie Coyle's deflected effort from 20 yards creeping into the bottom corner after Amir Hadziahmetovic's initial blocked strike rebounded into the path of the Tigers captain.

Appeals for a penalty on 62 minutes were waved away by Andrew Madley as McBurnie looked to sweep Ryan Giles' low cross home at the second attempt under pressure from Jimmy Dunne, before an error from Pandur then saw Kone blaze over the top from an offside position.

Former Hull loanee, Vale, then produced an inswinging cross that had the home crowd nervous as it evaded everyone in sight and only curled narrowly wide of the post with 19 minutes remaining.

However, the visitors would retake the lead with five minutes of normal time remaining as Bennie was allowed time and space to unleash a stunning effort from 25 yards past the Croatian, only minutes after he entered the fray.

The game could have been wrapped up in the first of eight added minutes, with Kone somehow unable to capitalise on a loose pass from Kieran Dowell. However, the striker would eventually grab his seventh league goal of the season moments later as he finessed the ball home after advancing into the box.

The Tigers remain fifth as a result of their third successive game without victory, and will hope to record a much-needed win against Derby County on Tuesday, whilst Rangers are up to 10th ahead of Saturday's remaining games.

FT: Hull City 1-3 Queens Park Rangers

Player Ratings

Hull City

Ivor Pandur - 4.5

Lewie Coyle - 6 (Drameh 78" - 6)

Paddy McNair - 5.5

John Egan - 5.5

Ryan Giles - 6

Regan Slater - 6.5 (Joseph 79" - 6)

Amir Hadziahmetovic - 6.5 (Koumas 68" - 6)

Yu Hirakawa - 6.5 (Dowell 57" - 5)

Joe Gelhardt - 7

Liam Millar - 6.5 (Lundstram 67" - 5)

Oli McBurnie - 6.5

Unused Subs: D.Phillips, C.Hughes, C.McCarthy, A.Famewo

Queens Park Rangers

Joe Walsh - 7.5

Amadou Mbengue - 6.5

Jimmy Dunne - 7

Ronnie Edwards - 6

Rhys Norrington-Davies - 7

Harvey Vale - 7.5

Isaac Hayden - 7 (Varane 80" - 6)

Nicolas Madsen - 7

Koki Saito - 7 (Morgan 93" - N/A)

Rayan Kolli - 6.5 (Bennie 80" - 7.5)

Richard Kone - 8.5

Unused Subs: B.Hamer, J.Clarke-Salter, Esquerdinha, J.Pearman, T.Smith, I.Alemayehu

Sergej Jakirovic reacts as Hull City defeated by Queens Park Rangers

Reacting to his side's defeat, Jakirovic said: "A bad game for us.

"I think we started the game very well and had control until the corner that we conceded. For me, this was unacceptable.

"We prepared everything for how we would defend and I think we missed the ball. Then we tried to put them under pressure, and it's not easy on this pitch. It's easier to defend when you are in a low or mid-block, and they are very dangerous on counter-attacks," he explained.

"Through Joffo (Gelhardt) we equalised, then tried to fix some aspects of our play at half-time. Especially with our midfield players, that we are in the pockets and have a good connection.

"I think we entered the second half good, and everything was OK until 80 minutes," Jakirovic stated.

"For me, it's unbelievable that we concede from a throw-in. We are not in our position in midfield, you must be in front of the defence.

"All the time we are running backwards, and this means you are not on your position. It was a fantastic goal.

"After this I was very angry because we lost everything on the pitch. Balance, discipline and we started to chase and run everywhere.

The Bosnian claimed: "Today, I think we gave them everything."

Reacting to the Hoops' double over the Tigers, Stephan said: "It was a great collective performance.

"A great win for us. The first 30 minutes were well managed by us, then we conceded a goal on a long transition and, for five to 10 minutes, it was difficult. But it's impossible to manage every moment in a game perfectly.

"We started the second half well and produced a really great second half," he added.

"We had big chances before the third goal to kill the game, then we succeeded and were efficient in that situation.

"I think the players showed a lot of ambition today, and they continued even when we scored the second.

"They continued to attack, create danger and try to score, and I'm very proud of that," Stephan continued.

"I'm very proud of that and the ambition that the players showed today."

Attendance

The attendance at the MKM Stadium today was 21,928.