Karlan Grant has played three times in his career at Hull - and scored four goals
West Bromwich Albion won for the first time in nine games as they beat Championship strugglers Hull City to maintain their healthy form away from The Hawthorns.
First-half goals from Karlan Grant and top scorer Josh Maja had sections of the home crowd calling for boss Tim Walter's sacking.
The mood improved when Joao Pedro's header pulled one back for the Tigers five minutes before the break.
But the hosts could not manage any further breakthrough as Albion - the side who almost cannot score at home - completed a fourth away league win in eight matches to heap further pressure on the under-pressure Walter.
While Albion are fifth in the table, the Tigers are now without a win in seven matches and kept out of the bottom three only on goal difference.
- Published4 days ago
- Published5 days ago
After Thursday's latest home stalemate at The Hawthorns, where Albion played out a remarkable fourth goalless draw in seven home games this season, the Baggies took just 12 minutes to break the deadlock at the MKM Stadium.
Hull had just scrambled away a Tom Fellows cross when the recalled Mikey Johnston found Grant on the left of the box and his low shot took a double deflection off Lewie Coyle and Alfie Jones to wrongfoot keeper Ivor Pandur and go in at the near post.
It was Grant's fourth goal in just three visits to the ground, having also got both Albion strikes in the Baggies' 2-0 win in March 2022 - and scored there for Huddersfield too in an overall tally of six goals against the Tigers in his career haul of 50 league goals.
Xavier Simons then hit the underside of the bar for Hull but, on 17 minutes, it was 2-0 - and Johnston was again involved. The former Celtic winger's left-wing cross picked out Darnell Furlong at the far post - and his nod back across goal fell for Maja who stole in to head an eighth away strike in this season's total of nine goals.
Pedro then got up highest to meet Charlie Hughes' curling right-wing cross to glance his header across goal into the top corner.
But that proved to be the end of the scoring as Regan Slater headed Abdus Omur's cross over on 58 minutes before Hull keeper Pandur had to keep out Torbjorn Heggem's overhead kick from 12 yards.
Who's next?
Both sides now have a 13-day break before their next Championship games.
Hull return to action with a trip to fellow strugglers Luton on Saturday, 23 November, when Albion will host Norwich City looking for their first home goal in over two months.
Hull City boss Tim Walter told BBC Radio Humberside:
"We are not happy with the result but the improvement in the performance was obvious. That's what keeps me strong and keeps me happy.
"If you have a negative run, like we are having, all you can do is fight against it and stick together.
"We need big character and that's what we showed. I know the results will come. We need a bit more luck.
"The reaction from our fans was brilliant. They tried to keep us up and to keep us in the game. That was really good and I'm really pleased."
West Bromwich Albion head coach Carlos Corberan told BBC Radio WM:
"The Championship is a massive league this year. To win is very hard.
"We have only lost two games out of 15 this season - and we have 25 points. We can compete. It is a message that we need to understand.
"Hull are a very offensive team with quality, so I am very proud of the players.
"We played Thursday night and had only 66 hours to prepare for the game. They had two days more."
