Bristol City 2-1 Hull City: Famara Diedhiou & Jamie Paterson give Robins win
- Published
Famara Diedhiou's goal against Hull City was his first for Bristol City since February
Jamie Paterson scored a fabulous free-kick and set up Bristol City's other goal as they held off a fightback from struggling Hull City to begin life without Lee Johnson with a first win in 10 matches.
Paterson's exquisite first-time pass freed Famara Diedhiou to steer the hosts ahead and he curled home a sumptuous set-piece in off the bar from 25 yards to double their advantage.
Hull pulled one back through Jordy de Wijs' glancing header but the hosts held on to halt a run of four successive defeats since football's restart and give caretaker boss Dean Holden a winning start.
While victory came too late to save Johnson - the manager sacked on Saturday after a defeat by Cardiff City that virtually ended City's play-off chances - it piled more pressure on Grant McCann's Tigers.
Middlesbrough's win at Millwall earlier on Wednesday pushed Hull into the bottom three and they remain there despite a spirited second-half effort at Ashton Gate.
De Wijs' goal gave them hope but Daniel Bentley made fine saves to deny Mallik Wilks and Josh Bowler an equaliser to leave Hull in danger of dropping down to the third tier for the first time in 15 years.
Tigers' terrible 2020 trundles on
While the hosts' two goals came from moments of Paterson magic, Hull - whose tally of 74 goals conceded is the Championship's second worst defensive record, behind Luton - again struggled at the back.
Only key saves from George Long, who denied Nahki Wells and Diedhiou in a one-sided 15-minute spell either side of half-time that also included both of the Robins' goals, kept them in contention.
No team has conceded more goals (40) and lost more games (12) in the second tier in 2020 than Hull but the fight they showed after going 2-0 down will have provided McCann some consolation.
They offered plenty going forward throughout as James Scott twice went close in the first half, while only Bentley's brilliance stopped Hull rescuing a point through the lively Wilks and substitute Bowler.
Hull face fellow strugglers Luton and Wigan in crucial games during the run-in, with the Latics' possible 12-point deduction for entering administration offering the Tigers another route to survival.
Paterson prompts reignited Robins
Bristol City were the only Championship side in worse form than Hull since February but this victory kept them in with an outside chance of making the play-offs.
In reality, a gap of six points with four games remaining is likely to be insurmountable but this display provided flashes of why they have been in promotion contention for most of the season.
Paterson's performance was particularly eye-catching, his precision in cushioning a high clearance first-time to Diedhiou for the opener as impressive as his classy set-piece strike later.
But the defensive shortcomings that have plagued the Robins, without a clean sheet in 11 games, resurfaced as they needed Bentley to preserve what had appeared set to be a routine win.
Bristol City interim boss Dean Holden told BBC Radio Bristol:
"It was a good night and getting the three points was the most important thing. The first-half performance is something that we are looking for.
"We had to weather the storm in the second half and the lads had to dig in - there are different ways to win a game and they have thrown themselves in front of everything.
"We scored two fantastic goals. Pato's execution for the second goal, the free-kick, is top drawer but the first goal was a great moment of quality from him as well, the half-volley to play Famara in.
"It was strange, a surreal experience not having the gaffer there with us but we had to move forward and we had to get three points for Bristol City and the supporters tonight - that's been a long time coming."
Hull manager Grant McCann told BBC Radio Humberside:
"I think you've seen in the performance the boys are working ever so hard and they've done everything they can to try to get the win.
"I thought performance-wise and chances created, we were good, we got into dangerous areas. The response from the boys in the second half was excellent.
"They showed a bit of fighting spirit and were unlucky not to come away with a point if truth be told. In terms of their performance and work ethic I couldn't fault them.
"Yes, of course, we need to be better defensively but we've got four games now where we all need to stick together and try to get the right response."