Gelhardt scores late as Hull beat Portsmouth

Hull City move to fifth in the table after beating Portsmouth in the early kick-off

Hull City beat Portsmouth in an entertaining match featuring five goals to move into the Championship's play-off places.

Pompey took an early lead when Terry Devlin's strike from outside the box was deflected into the net.

The Tigers then drew level before the half hour mark as Enis Destan swept home Lewie Coyle's cross, and just before the break Kyle Joseph headed the hosts in front from a corner.

Deep in added time at the end of the half, however, Josh Murphy found Devlin again with a cross and he headed home to make it 2-2.

But late on Joe Gelhardt produced a calm and composed finish to dink the ball over Portsmouth keeper Josef Bursik and win the game for the Tigers.

The result meant that Hull moved to fifth in the table and Portsmouth remain 20th, but with sides above and below both teams in later kick-offs.

In the 16th minute Pompey took the lead through Devlin thanks to a big deflection.

Conor Chaplin whipped in a cross from the left which was cleared only as far as the Blues defender, who struck the ball with his right foot which was diverted off a Hull player and it flew into the top corner.

Just before the half hour mark the Tigers equalised, though, when Coyle dashed down the right wing and slid the ball into the box where Destan finished from close range at the near post.

The hosts then went in front as Gelhardt's inswinging delivery was headed home by Joseph, but their hopes of going into the interval ahead were dashed when Portsmouth scored to level the game up.

Murphy crossed with his left foot and found the head of unmarked Devlin, who nodded his second of the game.

Just after the hour mark Hull went close when Ryan Giles crossed from the left and found Regan Slater who glanced it over the crossbar.

The hosts then took the lead again with just over 10 minutes remaining, Charlie Hughes drilled a ball over the top which was beautifully taken down by Gelhardt.

The forward - who is on loan from Leeds United - then calmly chipped the ball over onrushing Portsmouth keeper Bursik and into the back of the net.

Pompey have now lost four of their last five matches and last won a Championship game on 4 October.

'A lot of energy and intensity' - reaction

Hull head coach Sergei Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside:

"I'm very pleased with the performance, we played very well for all 90 minutes.

"We controlled most moments on the pitch and scored three beautiful goals and we put a lot of energy and intensity on the pitch.

"The third goal was outstanding, even the pass from Charlie because they had five behind (the ball), but great timing of the run by Joe Gelhardt, first touch amazing and the second touch, I would say like Denis Bergkamp for Arsenal.

"Enis Destan (was brought in), because we expected a lot of long balls, a lot of air challenges, they tried to press us man to man all over the pitch. When he arrived he was injured, now he's healthy and I'm pleased to give him the chance, and he used his first appearance, first goal, it cannot be better."

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent:

"We switched off completely for the third goal and that's what lost us the game, the third goal feels like the most frustrating one.

"We worked hard and pressed and looked solid as the game went on but we have to be miles better when we go forward.

"Murph [Josh Murphy] can't be the only outlet we have, we have to take care of the ball better and have to create more in terms of opportunities and we haven't been.

"We have to come back after the international break and cut out those errors that have left us in the table where we are."