Blackburn Rovers kick-started their Championship campaign with a commanding 3-0 win over Hull City, ruthlessly exposing the hosts’ profligacy on the night the MKM Stadium hosted its 500th league game. Ryan Hedges, Yuki Ohashi and Todd Cantwell found the net as Valerien Ismael’s side, beaten in all three of their previous league and cup matches this season, finally turned promising passages of play into points.
Hull, who had opened their league season with a goalless draw at Coventry and a 3-2 home win over Oxford, began brightly but were punished for failing to score during an early spell of dominance. After Hedges’ composed first-half opener against the run of play, a devastating quickfire double soon after half-time left Sergej Jakirovic’s team well beaten, their efforts further undermined by illness in the camp and the absence of injured midfielder Matt Crooks.
Tigers’ Lively Start Meets Toth’s Resistance
The milestone occasion initially appeared to be going Hull’s way. They moved the ball with confidence and carved out the first clear opening when John Lundstram lofted a high pass towards Joel Ndala in space. Instead of shooting, the winger tried to return the ball to Lundstram and misjudged the pass, squandering a promising situation that summed up Hull’s lack of conviction in front of goal.