Oxford United 1-1 Hull City: FLW report as Tigers frustrated by spirited U's in Good Friday clash | OneFootball

FLW report from the Kassam Stadium for this Championship fixture

Hull City's inconsistent run of form in recent weeks continued against Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium on Good Friday, with the Tigers and U's playing out a 1-1 draw in windy conditions.

Sergej Jakirovic's team did make the perfect start when Mohamed Belloumi marked his first start since Boxing Day with his second goal of the season after four minutes played.

However, Matt Bloomfield's men pegged them back less than 10 minutes later as Will Lankshear was felled inside the area, before Cameron Brannagan confidently tucked away his penalty.

The hosts certainly had chances to complete a comeback against the Tigers, who will certainly feel it was two points dropped in their bid to secure a play-off place.

Oxford United 1-1 Hull City

Although Oxford mustered the first chance when Lankshear couldn't capitalise on Semi Ajayi's lapse in concentration, the Tigers took the lead inside four minutes as the Nigerian centre-back picked out Belloumi, who drifted inside and slotted the ball past Jamie Cumming.

The hosts were level just nine minutes later, though, as Charlie Hughes tripped Lankshear just inside the box, with Brannagan confidently dispatching the subsequent penalty, even with Dillon Phillips diving the correct way.

Lankshear was extremely unfortunate not to have netted his ninth league goal of the campaign on 22 minutes, as he was left unmarked before sending a diving header from Stan Mills' inviting cross just past the right-hand post.

With six minutes of the first period remaining, Hull looked to regain the control they had largely lost since the U's equaliser. Belloumi sending a hopeful toe-poke towards goal which evaded the bottom corner and Kyle Joseph, before the latter was smartly denied by Cumming seconds later.

A comedy of errors just before the break nearly resulted in Bloomfield's side completing a first-half turnaround as Phillips was initially able to deny Myles Peart-Harris, before Jamie Donley couldn't round the City keeper to score the hosts' second.

Three minutes after half-time, Michal Helik was unable to add his fourth career goal against the East Yorkshire side, as the tall Polish centre-back headed Ciaron Brown's flick-on over the crossbar before landing awkwardly.

Phillips then pulled off a stunning save as Brannagan lined up a stunning effort from 25 yards out, before the experienced shot-stopper's intervention stopped it from flying into the top-right-hand corner.

Improvisation from all of Oli McBurnie, Matt Crooks and Belloumi then saw City trouble the Oxford defence for the first time in the second half, with the ball eventually falling back at Crooks' feet before he fired high and wide.

A chaotic scramble would then ensue in the Hull penalty area 15 minutes from time, with all of Lankshear, Brown and Donley unable to turn the ball home under pressure.

With four minutes of stoppage-time signalled at the end of the match, Oxford substitute Mark Harris saw his name up in lights as he latched onto Mills' teasing delivery, before somehow directing his effort off-target from a matter of yards out.

Ultimately, it was the hosts who were left more satisfied with the result despite the fact it doesn't take them out of the bottom three, whilst Hull remain fifth on 67 points, four clear of Southampton in seventh.

Player Ratings

Oxford United

Jamie Cumming - 6.5

Sam Long - 7

Michal Helik - 7

Ciaron Brown - 7

Ruben Roosken - 6.5 (Spencer 46" - 7)

Yunus Konak - 7 (Vaulks 77" - 6)

Cameron Brannagan - 8

Stan Mills - 7

Jamie Donley - 6.5 (Harris 76" - 6)

Myles Peart-Harris - 7 (Jeon 76" - 6)

Will Lankshear - 7.5 (Prelec 92" - N/A)

Unused Subs: M.Ingram, C,Makosso, J.McDonnell, P.Placheta

Hull City

Dillon Phillips - 7.5

Cody Drameh - 7

Semi Ajayi - 7

Charlie Hughes - 6 (Egan 46" - 6.5)

Lewie Coyle - 7

John Lundstram - 6 (Collyer 83" - 6)

Matt Crooks - 6.5

Mohamed Belloumi - 7.5 (Dowell 64" - 6)

Joe Gelhardt - 6 (Koumas 64" - 6)

Kyle Joseph - 6 (Millar 83" - 6)

Oli McBurnie - 6

Unused Subs: I.Pandur, C.McCarthy, P.McNair, A.Hadziahmetovic

Matt Bloomfield reacts as Oxford United earn battling point vs Hull City

Reacting to Oxford's encouraging performance, Bloomfield said: "I thought we were very good and created enough opportunities to win the game.

"Loads of big chances came our way, but we unfortunately couldn't get the winner.

"I'm really proud of the way the players kept going and kept creating. We could've nicked it at the end, a couple of times," he added.

"Unfortunately for us, it wasn't to be. But, in terms of effort, endeavour, creativity and the feeling in the crowd, I thought it was incredible.

"It's not easy to come back from a goal down against Hull either," the Oxford boss stated.

"To keep going and get ourselves back in the game, there's lots to be pleased and positive about.

"Obviously, we would have liked to have won the game - we are disappointed we haven't won. But, in terms of performances, there were some good bits out there today."

Sergej Jakirovic reacts as Hull City frustrated by Oxford United

Offering his verdict on a frustrating afternoon for the Tigers, Jakirovic said: "Oxford have taken 10 points from their last five games, and they are fighting to stay in the league.

"Especially in these conditions, you never know when the ball is stuck in the air, and they know how to use the wind. That is my impression.

"I think we entered the game very well and took the lead through Belloumi. A very nice goal," he added.

"We controlled mostly everything except the long balls to Lankshear, but we made one mistake in midfield when we lost a very easy ball. They used the penalty to make it 1-1.

"We tried something. But today, we were without ideas on the ball and mostly played around. We must be patient in trying to break the last line (of defence), have better body positions and decisions in the last third.

"We had one good chance through Kyle Joseph," Jakirovic explained. "They also had more chances.

"We tried to fix these problems in the second half, but they started better in the first 10–15 minutes, and then we had control.

"Unfortunately, we were very bad in the last third. Bad decisions and technical issues. We needed better crosses with players in the box and sometimes let the ball stick in the air.

"They had a 100 percent chance (to score) at the end after our free-kick (through Mark Harris).

"We should be happy with the point," the Bosnian stated. "Maybe this is a good result today.

"The main target is also to take three points, but the opponents were also good today."

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