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Woeful Hull City deservedly beaten by bottom side Fulham at Craven Cottage

The Tigers suffer a second straight away defeat

Josh King of Fulham reacts after missing a chance against Hull City
Josh King of Fulham reacts after missing a chance against Hull City

Hull City's worst performance since promotion saw them comfortably beaten by bottom-side Fulham at Craven Cottage, even if the 1-0 scoreline suggests it was closer than it was.

The Tigers were second-best from the first whistle and produced a display strewn with errors and an uncharacteristic lack of intensity, with and without the ball all afternoon.

A torrid first half on the banks of the Thames saw City a goal down at the interval after a dismal showing. Alex Iwobi's effort allowed to squirm past Kostas Tzolakis and into the net just after the half-hour, and in truth, Fulham's dominance deserved much more.

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Fulham had chances in the second half to make their lives more comfortable, with Kostas Tzolakis and the woodwork keeping them at bay, but make no mistake about it, City deserved nothing, and that's what they got.

Boss Jakirovic made three changes from last Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Everton. One of those was enforced with Nobel Mendy unavailable due to a groin injury, so back into the starting XI came Australian international Lucas Herrington.

The other changes saw Joe Gelhardt and Ryan Giles drop to the bench, with Mo Belloumi returning to the side and a first start for Brooke Norton-Cuffy, who started on the left side.

A host of players remained unavailable to Jakirovic, including Mohamed-Ali Cho, Lucas Gourna-Douath, Jack Butland and Charlie Hughes.

City were at sixes and sevens in the opening half-hour, giving the ball away at will and allowing Fulham to play with freedom. The only saving grace for the Tigers was that they hadn't conceded.

While Tigers fans will know this is a team not too concerned about possession, just 19.5 per cent in the first 30 minutes summed up how little they offered in the game, and so it was no surprise when the hosts finally scored.

Norton-Cuffy's clearance was awful, and Iwobi shot straight through Tzolakis, his half epitomised by the error in allowing it to squirm past him and into the net.

The saving grace for the hapless visitors was that they only went into the break a goal down, so poor were they. A lack of shape, structure and a desire to keep giving the ball away. Those hallmarks we've hailed Jakirovic's side for in recent months were non-existent in a dreadful first period.

Herrington, on a booking, was replaced at the break by Iroegbunam, with City moving to a back four.

It should have been 2-0 early in the second period when Iwobi was played in, but Tzolakis made a fine save to spread himself and keep his side in a contest they had not been in.

Just over 20 minutes were left when Jakirovic made a triple change with Gelhardt, Robinho Vaz, and Giles coming on for Thomas, Norton-Cuffy and Crooks. Giles cleared off the line before Garcia headed off the bar. The one-sided nature of the contest continued.

Morita was next to come on with 15 minutes left in place of Slater and showed his quality immediately. Belloumi drove a late free-kick over the bar. In injury time, substitute Ryan Sessegnon was sent off for a crude foul on Vaz, but that was too late to have an impact. There will be concern about Vaz, who had to be helped off the field.

City's winless run extended, and boss Jakirovic will know there will have to be a major improvement after a display as poor as this.

  • Second-best City behind to 33rd minute Alex Iwobi goal
  • The Tigers' first attempt came from Slater's volley over the bar after 43 minutes
  • Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Affengruber, Bassey, Robinson, Berge, Charles, King, Bobb, Gonzalo, Iwobi. Subs: Lecomte, Tete, Anderson, Sessegnon, Palacios, Cairney, Manuel Angel, Kevin, Muniz.
  • Hull City: Tzolakis, Norton-Cuffy, Herrington, Egan, Ajayi, Coyle (c), Slater, Crooks, Thomas, Belloumi, McBurnie. Subs: Phillips, Gelhardt, McNair, Vaz, Morita, Hjerto-Dahl, Stroud, Iroegbunam, Giles
  • Referee: Chris Kavanagh
  • Sessegnon sent off in stoppage time for a foul on Vaz
  • Attendance: 27,531 (2,700 from Hull City)
  • City are next in action at home to Brentford next Sunday, kick off 2pm

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