Hull City secured their place in the Sky Bet Championship play-offs with a 4-2 home victory over Derby County.
Hull secure top 6th place with chaotic win over Derby
Second-half goals from John Egan and Luis Koumas earned the Tigers an important three points after losing their last two league games.
Hull took the lead after nine minutes when Callum Elder scored an own goal against his former club. Craig Forsyth equalized seven minutes later for Derby, but Oli McBurnie scored his 13th goal of the season after Elder’s slip-up.
Sammy Schmodics equalized for the Rams three minutes before half-time, but then Egan and Coumas handed John Eustace’s side a run of defeats.
Despite the mini-slump, the Tigers got off to a strong start and deserved an early lead. The first goals were scored by Ryan Giles and Liam Miller, with the former attempting to catch Josh Vickers unawares at his near post after a clever overlap.
Amir Hadjiametovic took a corner kick from the left and aimed it at McBurnie’s back post, but the ball skimmed Elder’s back and into the net.
Hull was dreaming of his chances at this stage, with Giles and Miller continually getting in his way. But Derby had yet to play their trump card, exploiting Hull’s obvious weakness on the right flank.
And they exploited that weakness in virtually the first attacking moment of the game. Szmodics initially well collected an aimless deep corner kick and passed it to Luis Travis, who ran into the penalty area and scored with precision.
Ivor Pandur reacted to the danger to some extent, but could only put the ball into the path of Forsyth, who could not miss.
The visitors were in a precarious situation and almost made it 2-1 five minutes later when Patrick Agyemang’s beautiful weaving run along the right flank ended with the American’s shot just over the crossbar.
There was a lull following a breathless first half, with McBurnie taking advantage of Elder’s howler despite the run of play. Elder was substituted at halftime, but was once again in charge as his reckless cross-field pass was easily cut out by Joe Gerhart.
Gerhardt then passed to the charging McBurney, who pirouetted past Forsyth and neatly past Vickers. But there was always a hunch that Derby would score again before the restart.
And it was proven in a situation similar to the first goal. Agyeman then rushed into the box from the left and fired a shot right in front of the goal. Pandur again failed to parry the ball safely and the rest went to Šmodics from a central position.
The second half was quiet in comparison, but Bobby Clarke should have done better one-on-one with Pandur.
Derby were punished for their mistake in the 75th minute after Egan instinctively turned and fired after being teed up by McBurnie to make it 3-2.
Then, in the 84th minute, Koumas ended the game with a superb chest shot and a volley from behind Derby’s last line.
Derby Telegraph journalist Lee Curtis was one of many to criticize referee Adam Herceg’s performance after the bizarre incident that saw Lewie Coyle and Joe Ward receive yellow cards.
After Ben Brereton-Diaz was brought down by Coyle, who was booked for a foul, Regan Slater hit Lewis Travis, the only player to be booked from Joe Ward in the ensuing scrap derby.
“It’s crazy. Ben Brereton Diaz gets cut down and it’s a foul. Travis is standing there and Slater runs up and slams him to the ground and runs away. The ref had a miserable night.”
But not only were the Rams upset by Hercek’s play, but Buzz Cooper of the Hull Daily Mail was also baffled by the referee’s decisions all night, especially the number of fouls.
28 fouls were given out on the night, 19 of which were against the hosts.
