Hull City’s impressive Championship form rolled on with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Swansea City at the MKM Stadium, a result that owed as much to ruthless first-half finishing as it did to resilient defending after the break. Oli McBurnie’s penalty against his former club and a thunderous strike from Regan Slater put the Tigers in control at half-time, before Liam Cullen’s header sparked a second-half fightback from the visitors.
Swansea, who squandered two golden chances through Championship leading scorer Zan Vipotnik, were transformed after the interval and pushed Sergej Jakirovic’s side all the way. Cullen’s goal from a Josh Tymon corner and late efforts from substitutes Marko Stamenic and Melker Widell forced Hull to cling on, while Yu Hirakawa and Kyle Joseph went close to restoring the home side’s two-goal cushion. In the end Hull secured a third consecutive league win and an eighth victory in their last 11 games, while Swansea’s improved display could not prevent a fifth defeat in six away matches under Vitor Matos.
McBurnie Punishes Cabango to Set Hull on Their Way
The contest began in low-key fashion, with neither side able to carve out a clear opening in an even first 20 minutes. That changed abruptly when Amir Hazdiahmetovic delivered a free-kick into the Swansea box and visiting captain Ben Cabango inexplicably handled as he tried to defend it. Referee Josh Smith had little hesitation in pointing to the spot, turning a previously uneventful encounter into one brimming with narrative and tension.