Jay Simpson's first goal in 16 months gave Hull a late win over Brighton and marked Steve Bruce's first competitive game in charge with all three points.

Substitute Simpson lashed a shot high into the goal past despairing keeper Tomasz Kuszczak with five minutes left.

Craig Mackail-Smith had almost given the Seagulls the lead but headed onto the crossbar, while team-mate Kazenga LuaLua saw a 25-yard drive well saved.

Simpson nearly doubled the lead in the 90th minute but his strike blazed over.

Former Sunderland boss Bruce was appointed Hull manager in June as a replacement for Nick Barmby, and admitted at the time that he wanted to get his new side back into the Premier League where they had been absent for the last two seasons.

On another day it could have been a different result however, as the visitors threatened to end Bruce's honeymoon period almost before it had begun with a series of chances and a large share of first-half possession.

Brighton striker Ashley Barnes headed an effort over the bar early on and midfielder Craig Noone fizzed a shot wide from outside the penalty area.

Sone Aluko and Robert Koren both had first-half efforts for Hull saved by keeper Kuszczak, and the former Manchester United keeper had to be alert again to save Paul McKenna's spectacular 30-yard drive.

But with the game petering out, Bruce replaced Aaron McLean in the 80th minute with Simpson and the striker made an immediate impact to score his first goal since April 2011.

Hull manager Steve Bruce:

"Brighton had some good chances, but we did too. It was always going to be open and we were a bit adventurous.

"It is going to take time, but I thought all of the new signings did okay."

Brighton manager Gus Poyet:

"In my opinion, we were the better team. If we can do what we did for 88 minutes, I think we'll be a good team this season.

"I'm very positive. The players are down, but I've told them not to worry. I will have chances to be mad with them this season, but this is not the day to do that.

"The kind of performance we produced and the way we played was of a very good level."

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Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (5)

Hull City

  • 22 Amos
  • 02 Rosenior
  • 05 Chester
  • 19 Dudgeon
  • 04 McKenna Booked
  • 07 Stewart
  • 10 Koren
  • 23 Faye Booked (Bruce - 76' )
  • 24 Aluko
  • 09 Mclean (Simpson - 81' )
  • 33 Proschwitz (Evans - 73' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Oxley
  • 15 McShane
  • 28 Bruce
  • 08 Evans
  • 14 Cairney
  • 16 Olofinjana
  • 11 Simpson

Brighton & Hove Albion

  • 29 Kuszczak
  • 02 Bruno
  • 03 Greer
  • 06 El-Abd
  • 28 Bridge
  • 08 Crofts
  • 11 Noone Booked (LuaLua - 68' )
  • 18 Dicker (Agdestein - 89' )
  • 26 Bridcutt
  • 09 Barnes
  • 12 Mackail-Smith

Substitutes

  • 16 Ankergren
  • 05 Dunk
  • 14 Calderon
  • 22 Painter
  • 17 Harley
  • 25 LuaLua
  • 23 Agdestein
Ref: Attwell
Att: 15,794

Match Stats

Shots

13 18

On target

8 4

Corners

3 4

Fouls

10 16

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:03 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +3:47

Effort on goal by Robert Koren from 18 yards. Save by Tomasz Kuszczak.

90:00 +2:22

Shot from just outside the box by Liam Bridcutt goes over the target.

90:00 +0:57

Adam El-Abd challenges Jay Simpson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Cameron Stewart restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +0:42

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Corry Evans by Wayne Bridge. Liam Rosenior restarts play with the free kick.

89:00

Jay Simpson takes a shot. Save by Tomasz Kuszczak. Jay Simpson produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the crossbar. Kazenga LuaLua concedes a free kick for a foul on Liam Rosenior. Direct free kick taken by Ben Amos.

88:19 Substitution

Substitution Torbjorn Agdestein joins the action as a substitute, replacing Gary Dicker.

87:48

Kazenga LuaLua takes the direct free kick.

87:48 Booking

Booking Paul McKenna goes into the referee's book.

87:44

Free kick awarded for a foul by Paul McKenna on Kazenga LuaLua.

85:59

Shot from outside the area by Wayne Bridge misses to the left of the goal.

84:29

Assist by Joe Dudgeon.

84:29 Goal scored

Goal - Jay Simpson - Hull 1 - 0 Brighton Jay Simpson grabs a goal from inside the box high into the middle of the goal. Hull 1-0 Brighton.

83:21

Shot by Craig Mackail-Smith. Save by Ben Amos.

82:14

Ashley Barnes delivers the ball, Header from deep inside the penalty area by Andrew Crofts goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

81:50

Kazenga LuaLua takes a shot. Save by Ben Amos.

81:23

Joe Dudgeon produces a cross, clearance made by Wayne Bridge. Liam Rosenior delivers the ball, save by Tomasz Kuszczak.

79:35 Substitution

Substitution Jay Simpson joins the action as a substitute, replacing Aaron Mclean.

79:35

James Chester challenges Craig Mackail-Smith unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed by Gary Dicker. Craig Mackail-Smith produces a volleyed left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

78:56

Sone Aluko takes a shot.

78:31

Unfair challenge on Robert Koren by Saltor Bruno results in a free kick. Robert Koren takes the free kick.

77:55

Saltor Bruno delivers the ball, Craig Mackail-Smith gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Liam Rosenior. Ben Amos takes the direct free kick.

77:19

The ball is delivered by Kazenga LuaLua, clearance made by Alex Bruce.

75:51 Substitution

Substitution Abdoulaye Faye goes off and Alex Bruce comes on.

74:42

Adam El-Abd gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Sone Aluko. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Sone Aluko from right wing, save by Tomasz Kuszczak.

74:05

Ashley Barnes produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the goal.

73:51

A cross is delivered by Kazenga LuaLua.

73:27

The ball is crossed by Cameron Stewart, clearance made by Adam El-Abd.

71:17 Substitution

Substitution Corry Evans replaces Nick Proschwitz.

71:17

Centre by Kazenga LuaLua, Aaron Mclean gets a block in. Short corner taken by Kazenga LuaLua. A cross is delivered by Kazenga LuaLua, Andrew Crofts has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.

70:49

The ball is swung over by Gary Dicker, clearance made by Liam Rosenior.

70:01

Andrew Crofts takes the outswinging corner, Paul McKenna makes a clearance.

69:27

The ball is sent over by Saltor Bruno, Liam Rosenior manages to make a clearance. Kazenga LuaLua takes a inswinging corner.

68:36

Effort from the edge of the area by Craig Mackail-Smith goes wide of the left-hand upright.

67:56 Substitution

Substitution Kazenga LuaLua on for Craig Noone.

67:38

Robert Koren has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.

64:40

Liam Rosenior produces a cross, clearance made by Adam El-Abd. Sone Aluko takes a shot. Andrew Crofts gets a block in.

65:37

Craig Noone concedes a free kick for a foul on Liam Rosenior. Liam Rosenior restarts play with the free kick.

65:17

Corner taken right-footed by Robert Koren.

64:40

Liam Rosenior sends in a cross, Adam El-Abd makes a clearance. Sone Aluko takes a shot. Blocked by Andrew Crofts.

63:11

James Chester challenges Craig Mackail-Smith unfairly and gives away a free kick. Craig Noone delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing.

62:10

The ball is crossed by Aaron Mclean, Adam El-Abd manages to make a clearance.

60:59

Wayne Bridge crosses the ball, Gary Dicker has a headed effort at goal from just inside the penalty area that misses to the right of the goal.

59:50

Shot from just outside the box by Craig Noone misses to the left of the target.

58:05

Ashley Barnes takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Ben Amos makes a save.

57:46

Aaron Mclean concedes a free kick for a foul on Liam Bridcutt. Wayne Bridge restarts play with the free kick.

56:05

Direct free kick taken by Adam El-Abd.

56:05 Booking

Booking Caution for Abdoulaye Faye.

55:42

Centre by Cameron Stewart, Liam Bridcutt manages to make a clearance. Abdoulaye Faye gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Craig Mackail-Smith.

53:49

Unfair challenge on Wayne Bridge by Cameron Stewart results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Wayne Bridge.

49:51

Centre by Craig Noone, Craig Mackail-Smith takes a shot.

48:09

Robert Koren decides to take a short corner.

47:40

Cameron Stewart sends in a cross, Saltor Bruno makes a clearance. Paul McKenna takes a shot. Save made by Tomasz Kuszczak.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:00 +0:58 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +0:09

The ball is swung over by Sone Aluko.

44:14

Saltor Bruno concedes a free kick for a foul on Joe Dudgeon. Direct free kick taken by Joe Dudgeon.

41:54

Mishit right-footed shot by Gary Dicker. Ben Amos makes a save.

40:30

Foul by Craig Mackail-Smith on Abdoulaye Faye, free kick awarded. James Chester takes the free kick.

39:51

Craig Noone gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Robert Koren. Abdoulaye Faye takes the direct free kick.

36:52

The ball is sent over by Sone Aluko, Tomasz Kuszczak makes a save.

36:13

Robert Koren takes a shot. Save by Tomasz Kuszczak.

35:50

The ball is crossed by Liam Rosenior, Liam Bridcutt makes a clearance.

34:43

Sone Aluko takes a shot.

32:52

The ball is crossed by Nick Proschwitz, Tomasz Kuszczak makes a save.

31:18

Andrew Crofts produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes wide left of the goal.

29:12

Cameron Stewart sends in a cross, save by Tomasz Kuszczak. Robert Koren takes a shot. Save made by Tomasz Kuszczak.

25:08

Direct free kick taken by Ben Amos.

25:08 Booking

Booking Craig Noone is given a yellow card.

24:52

Craig Noone challenges Liam Rosenior unfairly and gives away a free kick.

21:00

A cross is delivered by Craig Noone, Craig Mackail-Smith has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.

19:04

Free kick awarded for a foul by Aaron Mclean on Craig Noone. Direct free kick taken by Tomasz Kuszczak.

16:57

Joe Dudgeon fouled by Ashley Barnes, the ref awards a free kick. Joe Dudgeon takes the direct free kick.

16:00

Unfair challenge on Sone Aluko by Andrew Crofts results in a free kick. Robert Koren takes the direct free kick.

13:52

Free kick awarded for a foul by Liam Bridcutt on Aaron Mclean. Cameron Stewart takes the free kick.

12:44

Liam Rosenior sends in a cross, save by Tomasz Kuszczak.

12:02

Craig Noone produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

9:30

Aaron Mclean crosses the ball, save by Tomasz Kuszczak.

8:35

Inswinging corner taken by Robert Koren from the left by-line, free kick awarded for a foul by Nick Proschwitz on Gordon Greer. Tomasz Kuszczak takes the direct free kick.

7:57

Gary Dicker challenges Nick Proschwitz unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Paul McKenna. Shot from 20 yards from Sone Aluko. Save by Tomasz Kuszczak.

7:34

Cameron Stewart concedes a free kick for a foul on Liam Bridcutt. Liam Bridcutt restarts play with the free kick.

4:58

A cross is delivered by Craig Mackail-Smith, Liam Rosenior makes a clearance. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Gary Dicker from the right by-line, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Ashley Barnes goes harmlessly over the crossbar. Robert Koren fouled by Andrew Crofts, the ref awards a free kick. The ball is delivered by Robert Koren, James Chester has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.

4:58

Centre by Craig Mackail-Smith, Liam Rosenior makes a clearance. Corner taken right-footed by Gary Dicker, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Ashley Barnes goes harmlessly over the crossbar. Andrew Crofts challenges Robert Koren unfairly and gives away a free kick. Robert Koren sends in a cross, Headed effort from deep inside the area by James Chester misses to the right of the goal.

4:31

Aaron Mclean crosses the ball, Saltor Bruno makes a clearance.

3:16

Unfair challenge on Craig Noone by James Chester results in a free kick. Liam Bridcutt restarts play with the free kick.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

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