The Tigers claimed a big scalp in front of their own supporters
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
17:05, 20 Sep 2025
Hull City’s Kyle Joseph celebrates his first MKM Stadium goal against Southampton(Image: Tony King/Getty Images)
A clinical display from Hull City saw them claim a second home win of the season by beating Southampton 3-1 at a rain-soaked MKM Stadium.
City hit the front after 23 minutes when Joe Gelhardt’s header from a Lewie Coyle cross was parried by Gavin Bazunu, and there lurking was Kyle Joseph to turn in his first MKM Stadium goal.
For all their dominance at the start of the second half, the visitors rarely threatened and were stung on the counter when Lewie Coyle’s cross was brilliantly nodded into the path of John Lundstram to volley in to make it 2-0.
Two quickly became three when Ryan Giles’ free-kick was headed into the bottom corner by Oli McBurnie to lift the roof off the MKM Stadium, and in truth, the Tigers could have added to their tally against a woeful Saints outfit who dominated the ball, without carrying much of a threat until Adam Armstrong crashed in a consolation in the last minute of added time.
The big news surrounded the return of Mohamed Belloumi. After nearly 11 months out with an ACL injury picked up in the closing stages of the defeat at Oxford United on Bonfire Night 319 days ago, the Algerian was back in from the start at the expense of David Akintola. That was Jakirovic’s only change from the 2-2 draw at Swansea City a week ago, though unfortunately for him, his return lasted just 40 minutes before he had to come off.Liam Millar, who is nearing his return from his own knee ligament injury is back in training, but the game came too soon for him to make his comeback and that could come at Watford next weekend.
Under rain-laden skies, the MKM Stadium was a fizzing atmosphere ahead of kick-off from the moment legendary former player Geovanni was introduced to the supporters moments before the players entered the arena.
A strange start ensued with the players ready to go two minutes before 3pm, and then forced to wait until the clock ticked past the hour, and immediately, City were given a free-kick when Jander was not on the pitch for the start.
Moments later, Hadziahmetovic flicked it to Joseph who rolled onto Giles down the left and his first-time cross almost found McBurnie at the near post, but Jack Stephens was there to block the Scotsman and deny a carbon copy of the equaliser at Swansea last week.
A clever lob from Amir to McBurnie saw the striker pick out Belloumi’s run in behind Manning, but after cutting into the box, his lay-off to the edge of it left Lundstram and Gelhardt in each other’s way and the chance went. Just before the quarter-hour mark Lundstram was booked for a shirt pull after being given a hospital pass in the middle of the park.
City opened the scoring after 23 minutes when Gelhardt’s header from Coyle’s deep cross was parried into Joseph who turned in his first MKM Stadium goal and second in three games.
Southampton were pushing and prodding without really testing Pandur in the City goal, and in truth, on the counter-attack, it was the Tigers who carried a bigger threat despite the opposition’s possession.
Before the break, Belloumi’s return was cut short after an attack. Having hobbled for a few moments, he had to replaced after a spell of treatment by Darko Gyabi for his home debut.
It was one-way traffic at the start of the second half, City were so deep and unable to keep the ball, inviting pressure consistently with all 11 players behind the ball. Stephens’ deflected effort from distance left Pandur stranded but fizzed wide, but Jakirovic’s side roared into a two-goal lead.
On the counter, Gelhardt’s touch to Coyle was important and he picked out McBurnie at the back post to wonderfully nod down into the path of the onrushing Lundstram to brilliantly volley into the back of the net.
Jakirovic, sensing a need to bring on fresh legs, brought on David Akintola and Regan Slater for Amir and Gelhardt. Adam Armstrong, Leo Scienza and Cameron Archer were then sent on. Damion Downs, Roerslev and Fellows were replaced two minutes after the hour, to boos of disapproval from the away section, but those changes had little impact because it soon became 3-0.
Harwood-Bellis fouled Joseph on the far side the left and was booked for that and then royally punished. Giles’ pinpoint ball into the box was met by the head of McBurnie to glance in past Bazunu.
City continued to look a real threat on the counter, with Gyabi shooting wide via a deflection. In the final 10 minutes, Joseph and Lundstram were replaced by Enis Destan for his maiden home outing and Kasey Palmer, while Elias Jelert came on for Manning.
Destan and Stephens were booked, closely followed by Slater, before Pandur joined the club in six minutes of added time for time-wasting.
Adam Armstrong did get the visitors on the scoresheet to deny City a clean sheet with a well-taken volley, but this was a deserved win for the hosts.
City: Pandur, Giles, Hughes, Egan, Coyle, Lundstram, Hadziahmetovic, Belloumi, Gelhardt, Joseph, McBurnie. Subs: Phillips, Akintola, Drameh, Ndala, Famewo, Gyabi, Slater, Destan, Palmer.
Southampton: Bazunu, Roerslev, Hardwood-Bellis, Stephens (c), Manning, Jander, Charles, Fellows, Azaz, Fraser, Downs. Subs: McCarthy, Wood, Jelert, Downes, Scienza, Robinson, Armstrong, Archer, Stewart.
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
Attendance: 22,085 (2,239 away)
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