Hull City revived their automatic promotion push with a 4-2 victory over Derby County, sealed by late goals from John Egan and substitute Lewis Koumas at the end of a gripping Championship contest. The Tigers twice went in front in a breathless first half, only to be pegged back on each occasion, before finally finding the extra touch of ruthlessness in the closing stages.
Callum Elder's own goal and Oli McBurnie's 13th strike of the campaign had Hull ahead at the break, but Craig Forsyth and Sammie Szmodics ensured Derby went in level after an open, chance-filled opening 45 minutes. Egan's first goal since September and a clinical breakaway finish from Koumas, just minutes after he came on, ended Hull's three-game winless run and kept them six points behind Middlesbrough in the automatic promotion places, while leaving Derby six points adrift of the play-off positions after a third defeat in four.
Breathless opening as Hull strike first and Derby respond
Both sides came into the game under pressure, Hull smarting from a shock 3-1 defeat to QPR and Derby having lost to fellow play-off rivals Watford. It was the hosts who settled quickest. Down the left, Ryan Giles and Liam Millar immediately caused problems, with Giles almost catching goalkeeper Josh Vickers out at his near post after a sharp overlap. From the resulting corner, swung in by Amir Hadziahmetovic towards the back post, the ball flicked off former Hull defender Callum Elder's back and spun past Vickers for an unfortunate own goal inside nine minutes.