Hull City 2-1 Bristol City: Jean Michael Seri scores late as Tigers come back to win
- Published
- comments
Hull City snatched the winner against Bristol City deep into injury time
Jean Michael Seri's 93rd-minute goal saw Hull City come from behind to beat Bristol City on the opening day of the season.
Bristol City striker Andi Weimann put his side ahead after 29 minutes, scoring from close range following a free-kick.
Ozan Tufan hit the post for Hull shortly after the break before drawing his side level from the penalty spot, after Benjamin Tetteh was brought down.
But former Fulham midfielder Seri broke the Robins' hearts with three minutes to go, firing the ball beyond goalkeeper Dan Bentley to give Hull all three points.
Both Hull and Bristol City finished last season uninspiringly near the bottom of the table, within a few points of each other in 17th and 19th.
But the Tigers had not beaten the Robins in the league since April 2016 - with a winless streak that stretched to eight matches.
That track record showed in the first half as Bristol City got off to the better start. Matty James' header forcing an early save from Matt Ingram in the Hull goal, while Chris Martin saw his own header go off target.
Weimann, who romped to 20 goals last season as Bristol City's top scorer, then picked up exactly where he left off after half an hour by putting his side in front once again.
New signing Kal Naismith whipped in a decent free-kick which Zak Vyner knocked back across goal into the path of the Austria striker, who did not miss.
Hull slowly came back after the break and Bristol City were given a massive let-off when Tufan hit the woodwork. A canny dummy from Seri set up the number seven, but his curling shot smacked off the post.
But it was not long before Tufan had his name on the scoresheet, when the referee pointed to the spot after Naismith appeared to take down Tetteh. It was a controversial call, but the Turk - who signed from Fenerbahce this summer - took his chance to draw Hull level.
Jay Dasilva almost put Bristol City back in front with four minutes of normal time to go, beating his defender and the goalkeeper, before his left-footed shot curled beyond the far post.
However, as happened so many times last season, Nigel Pearson's side could not shake the curse of conceding an injury time goal. With just three minutes of the six added on left to play, the ball fell to Seri on the edge of the box and his strike gave Hull the win and left Bristol City scratching their heads as to how they had left with nothing.
Hull City manager Shota Arveladze told BBC Radio Humberside:
"Even though we went 1-0 down we had an even game. They had their chances, we had our chances.
"We kept going because the supporters helped us, gave us the extra energy which sometimes you want to find in the last half an hour. Altogether I believe they assisted with the energy to the boys and the boys used that energy and finished the game.
"I believe Benjamin [Tetteh] had the time to really make a goal so I should not think why would he go down, they didn't break his leg but probably they touched him enough to get this penalty. It was a yard away, one-and-a half yards away from the goal.
"I don't want to say it's 100%, but it's a penalty which was almost a goal so he would not go down, that's what I want to believe."
Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson told BBC Radio Bristol:
"We've played well, we don't deserve to lose but I'm afraid you can't do a lot about that when circumstances pan out like they did.
"We feel really aggrieved with the equaliser that they got and that we didn't get a penalty almost straight after that. Their winner is just one of those things that sometimes happens in games, a big deflection which gives you no chance.
"There's absolutely nothing [contact for the Hull penalty] and to be honest with you, their player should have been booked for falling over afterwards. I just find it quite bizarre really. But I don't want to start moaning about referees on day one, I actually spoke to Kevin Friend before the game.
"We did OK for long periods in the game, we didn't quite pass the ball as well as we can do in the second half but we've had opportunities. Tommy Conway had a chance when he went on, Jay had a shot across the goal. We've put them under pressure but it's a disappointing end to a very promising performance."