Hull City 3-1 Sheffield Wednesday: FLW report as Tigers brush Owls aside with timely win | OneFootball

FLW report from the MKM Stadium for this Yorkshire derby

Hull City recorded their 20th win of the Championship season with a 3-1 success over already-relegated Sheffield Wednesday at the MKM Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Despite an eventual two-goal margin separating the Tigers and Owls at full-time, Sergej Jakirovic's side didn't have it all their own way in this Yorkshire derby, proven when Henrik Pedersen's side were given a 23rd-minute lead by Jamal Lowe.

However, City responded immediately when Matt Crooks swept home a smart finish from inside the six-yard box, before Dominic Iorfa's own-goal gave them a half-time advantage.

The tireless Kyle Joseph then added a third early in the second half as City looked to keep pace with the sides above them in the promotion race, whilst also keeping Southampton and Wrexham at arm's length below.

Hull City 3-1 Sheffield Wednesday

After a high-tempo start from both sides, the first clear-cut chance came after 12 minutes as Liam Millar capitalised on a poor touch from Iorfa to play in Oli McBurnie, who was smartly denied by the outstretched Pierce Charles.

The encounter then burst into life in the space of two minutes midway through the first period, with the Owls initially taking the lead as Lowe made space for himself to poke the ball under Ivor Pandur after the Hull rearguard failed to clear a free-kick which the Jamaican attacker initially won against Semi Ajayi.

The Tigers then struck back immediately when Crooks swept home Joseph's low cross for his fourth Championship goal of the season.

There were then appeals for a handball from the visiting supporters as Jerry Yates looked to restore their advantage minutes later with an effort that sailed past Pandur's right-hand post, with the home crowd somewhat restless with City's showing at that point.

Five minutes before the break, Lowe was unable to capitalise on another lack of communication between the Hull defence with a shot that lacked any kind of accuracy to arrow into the right-hand corner.

Jakirovic's side then looked to complete a first-half turnaround as a low cross from Liam Millar flashed across the face of goal whilst McBurnie couldn't connect with his outstretched leg.

They would do exactly that in the sixth minute of stoppage-time, though, as Iorfa turned Paddy McNair's inswinging free-kick into his own net under pressure from McBurnie and Joseph.

Six minutes after the interval, the Scot was unable to backheel another low cross from Joseph home, with Gabriel Otegbayo making a smart block.

Hull then gave themselves a two-goal advantage 13 minutes into the half as Joseph and McBurnie played a one-two in a centre-right position, before the former slotted his eighth of the campaign past Charles.

For all his impressive work, the ex-Sheffield United striker would continue to be denied a goal by Charles, with the Northern Irishman bailing out Sean Fusire after the Wednesday defender got caught in possession inside his own six-yard box.

Wednesday's first effort of the second half came with 18 minutes to go as substitute, Max Lowe, bent a first-time shot from Iorfa's deep cross high and wide.

Tigers substitute, Mohamed Belloumi, then saw a fierce strike well-saved by Charles in the final minutes of normal time, with this result keeping Hull fifth on 66 points, whilst the Owls remain on minus six as their winless run stretched to 33 matches - an unwanted English league record.

FT: Hull City 3-1 Sheffield Wednesday

Player Ratings

Hull City

Ivor Pandur - 6.5

Cody Drameh - 7

Semi Ajayi - 6.5

John Egan - 7

Paddy McNair - 7

Regan Slater - 6.5 (Lundstram 30" - 6.5)

Matt Crooks - 7.5 (Belloumi 80" - 6)

Kyle Joseph - 8.5 (Dowell 80" - 6)

Joe Gelhardt - 6 (Koumas 69" - 6)

Liam Millar - 7 (Hadziahmetovic 69" - 6.5)

Oli McBurnie - 7.5

Unused Subs: D.Phillips, L.Coyle, C.McCarthy, T.Collyer

Sheffield Wednesday

Pierce Charles - 6.5

Sean Fusire - 7.5

Dominic Iorfa - 5.5 (McGhee 85" - 6)

Gabriel Otegbayo - 6

Liam Palmer - 6

Jaden Heskey - 6

Tayo Adaramola - 6.5 (Lowe 63" - 6)

Jarvis Thornton - 6.5 (McNeill 63" - 6)

Svante Ingelsson - 6.5 (Chalobah 85" - 6)

Jamal Lowe - 7.5 (Ndala 73" - 6)

Jerry Yates - 6.5

Unused Subs: L.Stretch, M.Nakamba, I.Ugbo, W.Grainger

Sergej Jakirovic reacts as Hull City defeat Sheffield Wednesday

Reacting to a timely success for the Tigers, Jakirovic said: "I'm very pleased with the boys. I think they put everything on the pitch, because it was not an easy game.

"I expected a tough and demanding match, because nobody (has) beat them easily.

"They are organised and try to press the ball and press you. In the first 20, 25 minutes, it was not easy to find the gaps between their lines. They were very compact, and when we conceded, we started to play much faster and shorter, then we equalise," the Bosnian explained.

"1-1 after 94 seconds (behind), and then the second goal was very important before the break.

"I said to the players (at half-time) that without counter-attacks in the second half, you must be very organised with offensive marking - because they are very fast - and be patient on the ball and play around until the space comes.

"Unselfish running, especially from Kyle (Joseph) in the 'middle zone' when (we) are a back-three with John Lundstram and two 'number eights', Liam (Millar) on the left side.

"If there is an isolation 1v1, Cody (Drameh) will come there. I think Cody played an almost 'fantastic game'.

"Then the third goal was everything done. A great three points for us when I look at the table now, it's very tight," the City boss added.

Henrik Pedersen reacts as Sheffield Wednesday lose at Hull City

Reacting to Wednesday's latest defeat, Pedersen said: "A top first half. I think we competed in a very high level in the first half.

"We knew one of the reasons why Hull are so high in the league is because they are a strong pressing team, so strong on the transition and very physical and competitive.

"I think we handled the first half in a very good way. We handed the pressing and second balls well, because we know they are more direct at home than they are away.

"I think we had more really good opportunities on the transition. Generally, a really good first half from us," the Dane added.

"We go up 1-0, but very short as the next attack, we conceded. Beside this, they have two big chances in the first half, and they were when we tried to play, and we lost the ball and they got transitions against us.

"After the goal, we came back strong. It was an equal game, but we were good.

"Then to concede in the last ball of the first half of an own-goal was tough for the boys," said Pedersen.

"Second half, the first five minutes, they are on top, then we have 10 minutes. We had more pressing and transitional situations but also, more faces on the ball.

"We then lose the ball on the left side. A transitional goal for 3-1, and we all know it's difficult. We know how hard the boys are working for the goals, but we keep on trying.

"We had some opportunites, but they had some transitional chances.

"Again, we showed we could compete in many ways, but we also have a lot to learn."

Attendance

The attendance at the MKM Stadium this afternoon was 22,004 including 2,300 Sheffield Wednesday supporters.