Hull City 0-1 Swansea City: Liam Cullen goal gives Luke Williams first league win

Liam Cullen leads Swansea's celebrations after scoring his fifth goal of the season

Swansea City claimed a first league win under Luke Williams as Liam Cullen's goal dealt a blow to Hull City's Championship play-off hopes.

Cullen produced a clinical first-time finish from Josh Tymon's corner to give Swansea an early lead.

Cullen came closest to extending Swansea's advantage with a second-half effort which drifted narrowly wide, while Ozan Tufan wasted Hull's best chance when he headed straight at Carl Rushworth.

This was a timely triumph for Swansea, who fought hard - and showed signs of quality - to deliver head coach Williams' first Championship triumph at the fifth attempt.

Their poor form has prompted concerns over a potential spring-time relegation battle, but this notable win eases the pressure on Williams' team.

It was a frustrating afternoon for a disappointing Hull, whose attacking threat was limited even against opponents with one of the division's more porous defences.

Defeat sees Liam Rosenior's team drop out of the play-off places and into seventh, while Swansea climb to 16th, seven points clear of the bottom three.

Successive wins, some notable January signings and the recent return to fitness of Jaden Philogene had combined to lift Hull's mood as they prepared to face Swansea, yet it was the Welsh side who seized the early initiative.

Their purposeful opening was rewarded with the early set-piece goal, with Jay Fulton's subtle block on Philogene giving Cullen the time and space to steer home at the near post.

Swansea were playing with confidence, and might have doubled their advantage when Ronald crossed for fellow January recruit Przemyslaw Placheta, only for the Polish international to head across the face of goal.

Hull gradually grew into the contest, missing the chance to level when the unmarked Tufan failed to trouble Rushworth from Ryan Giles' free-kick.

On-loan Liverpool forward Fabio Carvalho shot wide from 20 yards before half-time, then a Hull counter around the hour mark left Nathan Wood scrambling back to clear off his own line after substitute Billy Sharp had beaten Rushworth to Tufan's long ball forward.

Anass Zaroury, making his second Hull appearance after joining from Burnley, takes on former Tigers player and local lad Josh Tymon

Swansea could have given themselves breathing space when Placheta's cross was nodded down by Ronald, but this time Cullen skewed his shot a foot wide of the post.

Matt Grimes saw a long-range drive pawed to safety by Ryan Allsop before Philogene forced Rushworth to save with his feet with a shot from a tight angle.

Rosenior rang the changes in an attempt to inspire a revival, but it was Swansea who came closest late on when Tymon's drive was saved by Allsop.

Hull head coach Liam Rosenior:

"I am devastated with firstly the result and secondly our performance, which was nowhere near what we have been accustomed to here.

"From minute one to their goal we were second best. I haven't had to say that too often. We didn't win enough duels today, all over the pitch.

"We didn't get the basics right. I have a confident group of players, a young group. There is confidence in this group but I felt it was over-confidence today. In the first 10-15 minutes, our intensity wasn't there.

"We didn't show enough energy or tenacity to win headers, win tackles or to press the ball. The manner that we lost the game in today is not acceptable."

Swansea head coach Luke Williams:

"To come away from home and keep a clean sheet and to win, I am really proud of the players.

"Hull are a really talented team. They are difficult to keep quiet but for the most part we did that.

"And it's not like we scored and then defended the lead, we carried on trying to score goals.

"It should give us a huge lift. I think the players should see that they have come away to a really tough opponent and won. If they can't take confidence from that… I don't know what more we need to prove it."