Bristol City 1-0 Hull City: Wells penalty proves enough for Robins to earn narrow win over Hull

Nahki Wells netted his 12th goal of the season in the win over Hull

Nahki Wells' penalty was enough to earn Bristol City victory over Hull and leapfrog their opponents in the table.

The Robins, who are now unbeaten in nine games, looked the better side overall, with Anis Mehmeti and Mark Sykes repeatedly causing problems.

But they needed a spot-kick to break Hull down, with Wells converting after Mehmeti's cross was handled 20 minutes from time - the hosts' second penalty in two games after going 469 days without one.

Hull almost snatched a point when substitute Benjamin Tetteh's header struck a post.

The visitors handed a debut to goalkeeper Karl Darlow, on loan from Newcastle, and he made an immediate contribution, foiling Sykes after Mehmeti had set him up inside the first minute.

George Tanner also went close for Bristol City, but the Tigers gradually began to carve out chances of their own as Oscar Estupinan blazed wide and Cyrus Christie's attempt was charged down.

The dangerous Mehmeti almost broke the deadlock in first-half injury time after latching onto Sykes' cross, but his effort was blocked and the Robins continued to push after the break for an opening goal.

Mehmeti and Sykes both had further attempts smothered, while the latter cut in from the right to send a drive zipping just wide of the target.

The breakthrough eventually came when Christie was penalised for handball 20 minutes from time and Wells slotted his 12th goal of the season from the spot.

Hull responded well, with Max O'Leary denying Ryan Longman at the far post before fellow substitute Tetteh hit the woodwork.

But Nigel Pearson's side held on to secure the points, lifting them to 13th place in the table while Hull slip to 16th.

Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson told BBC Radio Bristol:

"In the first half we had a lot of situations that looked promising without finding the end product. Perseverance does pay off sometimes and we put them under even more pressure in the second half.

"We were trying our best to keep the pressure on them but you always felt you needed to be patient. I'm just really pleased we were able to find a way to get the three points.

"Whoever starts the game, there's confidence that when we look to the bench to make changes, we don't feel we're ever going to weaken and it's nice to have real options."

"I thought all the subs who went on had a good impact on the game and we saw the game out in a very professional way."

Hull City head coach Liam Rosenior told BBC Radio Humberside:

"We lost the game in the first half, not the second. It wasn't (a penalty) but to be honest, our performance didn't deserve any luck.

"I felt we gave them an absolute leg-up in the first 10 minutes - we played with a lack of energy and that's why you end up losing the game.

"If you start like that and you lose so many headers, so many tackles, so many second balls you give the opposition confidence.

"Up to now, they've been magnificent, so I know it's there and we'll make sure we get back to the levels that I expect."