Oli McBurnie, left, and Joe Gelhardt, right, celebrate after Gelhardt scores for Hull CityImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Oli McBurnie and Joe Gelhardt both scored in a 3-2 win for Hull City

Oli McBurnie scored an added-time winner as Hull City edged a five-goal Championship thriller against Oxford United.

The Tigers were twice pegged back, having twice taken the lead in an end-to-end first half.

Joe Gelhardt opened the scoring inside two minutes before on-loan Tottenham forward Will Lankshear quickly equalised with his first goal for the visitors.

Matt Crooks scored to give the hosts the lead again before Cameron Brannagan smashed in the U's second volley of the afternoon to make it 2-2 inside 26 minutes, with both sides punished for some woeful defending.

With neither side adding to their tally after the break, the match appeared to be heading for a draw before McBurnie slotted in his first league goal for Hull in the third minute of added time.

Oli McBurnie scores his first league goal for Hull City with Oxford United defender Elliott Moore attempting to block the shotImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

McBurnie assisted Hull's first two goals before scoring the winner in added time

Despite failing to score in their opening Championship fixtures last weekend, both sides were on the board inside 10 minutes in a lively first half at MKM Stadium.

McBurnie, making his full league debut for the Tigers since completing his move from Las Palmas this summer, had a hand in all three goals.

He made an instant impact as he played the ball out to Gelhardt for the on-loan Leeds United striker to fire in at Jamie Cumming's near post in the second minute.

The U's hit back through Lankshear, who volleyed in his first senior league goal, but the hosts regained the lead as Crooks finished coolly following a lay-off from McBurnie.

Brannagan reacted quickest to a headed clearance to fire in Oxford's second volleyed goal of the day and despite having almost 75% possession, it appeared Hull were going to have to settle for a point.

However, McBurnie received a pass from Ryan Giles in the Oxford box, controlled the ball and clinically finished past Cumming to secure the Tigers' first win of the season.

'Good for our mentality' - reaction

Media caption,

Sergej Jakirovic was happy to pick up his first home win as Hull City manager

Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside:

"I'm very happy with this first home win in an official game, of course. I think we entered in the game excellent, very good.

"This is very good for our mentality that we believed until [the] end. We didn't change our style [of play], we were very good in possession.

"It's not easy to break down the opponent because they're almost eight or nine players behind the ball always, and you need good combination, good technique, first touch, running in the space."

On Oli McBurnie: "He proved already many times he can be the decision maker. He's very important for us because you see immediately in the training ground he's a leader. The boys like him very much already, he's positive and this is important."

Oxford United manager Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Oxfordshire:

"We changed the shape several times just to try and give ourselves a little bit more of a foothold.

"Of course they start and score a goal early, which is very disappointing from our perspective, and then to come in at half-time - I thought we rode our luck really first half.

"We ended up scoring two very good goals, both from set-pieces, but ultimately we probably should have been a couple more goals down because it was far too easy for them to open us up and create chances.

"[We] Switched to a five [at the back in the] second half to give us a bit of grip in the game defensively.

"We didn't get up the pitch enough, but I don't think they had many big chances. I thought we looked quite solid. You expect to see the game out."

Player of the match

Number: 9 O. McBurnie
Average rating 8.38
Number: 9 O. McBurnie
Average Rating: 8.38
Number: 21 J. Gelhardt
Average Rating: 8.17
Number: 3 R. Giles
Average Rating: 7.27
Number: 25 M. Crooks
Average Rating: 7.27
Number: 5 J. Lundstram
Average Rating: 7.26
Number: 4 C. Hughes
Average Rating: 7.09
Number: 19 J. Ndala
Average Rating: 7.05
Number: 18 C. Drameh
Average Rating: 6.99
Number: 45 K. Palmer
Average Rating: 6.90
Number: 1 I. Pandur
Average Rating: 6.88
Number: 15 J. Egan
Average Rating: 6.86
Number: 11 D. Akintola
Average Rating: 6.65
Number: 17 A. Kamara
Average Rating: 6.45
Number: 23 A. Famewo
Average Rating: 6.28
Number: 27 R. Slater
Average Rating: 5.94
Number: 22 K. Joseph
Average Rating: 5.90

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.

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