Match ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, Hull City 0.
West BromWest Bromwich Albion1HullHull City0
Third-placed West Bromwich Albion climbed within six points of the Championship top spot as they finally saw off Hull City at The Hawthorns.
From a poor pass across his own box by Greg Docherty on 69 minutes, home skipper Jake Livermore intercepted and fed Callum Robinson, who squared from the right to Karlan Grant - and the Albion top scorer confidently drilled home a low right-footed to register his eighth goal of the season.
Albion might have won by more but Matt Phillips hit the post before the interval, while Grant should have added a late second on the break and Hull got away with a penalty shout against Richie Smallwood for his challenge on Conor Townsend.
Relive Wednesday's Championship action as it happened
The Tigers rallied well and finished strongly, carving out a succession of late chances, including one amazing double save from Sam Johnstone.
But Hull showed just why they have the worst scoring record (nine in 16 games) and lowest shot conversion rate (less than 5%) of any side in the Championship this season as they suffered a fifth straight defeat.
Hull now head to Oakwell this Saturday for a Yorkshire derby with their fellow strugglers, managerless Barnsley, while former Tykes boss Valerien Ismael's new club are at home to Neil Warnock's Middlesbrough.
Albion, who gave a Championship debut to Telford teenager Taylor Gardner-Hickman but lost defender Kean Bryan on his first start with a first-half knee injury, will look to further cash in on leaders Bournemouth's slip-up at home to Preston.
But they still look a long way off their early-season form when they netted 11 goals in their first four games. Since then they have netted just 15 in 12 games - and Grant has netted seven of their last 12 of those.
West Bromwich Albion boss Val Ismael told BBC Radio WM:
"Hull City came here to stick six buses in front of goal but it was about being patient and finding the solution. And then we scored at the right moment.
"It was a difficult game, as we expected. The opponents came here to waste time, with so many fake injuries, trying to create frustration and they wanted the ball out.
"We know this situation and we managed it well. We stayed patient and we controlled the game. It was the best 'in-possession' game we have had this season."
Hull City boss Grant McCann told BBC Radio Humberside:
"I couldn't have asked for more in terms of the game plan. We looked threatening and defended manfully against a team expected to win the division.
"We lost a game through a moment of madness. One mistake when we lost a tackle left us split wide open and they punished us.
"It was the last pass that cost us. And we had two or three magnificent chances to equalise. But, if we play like that for the rest of the season then we won't have any problems. We will climb the table."
Line-ups
West Brom
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Johnstone
- 21Kipré
- 16Clarke
- 22BryanSubstituted forReachat 40'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 29Gardner-Hickman
- 8Livermore
- 23SnodgrassBooked at 90mins
- 3Townsend
- 10PhillipsSubstituted forHugillat 63'minutes
- 18Grant
- 7RobinsonSubstituted forDianganaat 88'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Ajayi
- 11Diangana
- 14Molumby
- 17Hugill
- 20Reach
- 25Button
- 33Taylor
Hull
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Ingram
- 2Coyle
- 5JonesSubstituted forMcLoughlinat 17'minutes
- 4Greaves
- 3Elder
- 6Smallwood
- 8DochertyBooked at 61mins
- 7WilksSubstituted forLongmanat 79'minutes
- 10HoneymanBooked at 37mins
- 11Lewis-Potter
- 27MagennisSubstituted forEavesat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Eaves
- 12Emmanuel
- 13Baxter
- 14Cannon
- 16Longman
- 17McLoughlin
- 22Smith
- Referee:
- Dean Whitestone
- Attendance:
- 19,659
Match Stats
Home TeamWest BromAway TeamHull
- Possession
- Home68%
- Away32%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away1
- Corners
- Home8
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, Hull City 0.
Post update
Grady Diangana (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Greg Docherty (Hull City).
Booking
Adam Reach (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Grady Diangana (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Richard Smallwood (Hull City).
Post update
Attempt blocked. George Honeyman (Hull City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Keane Lewis-Potter.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Richard Smallwood (Hull City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ryan Longman (Hull City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum Elder.
Booking
Robert Snodgrass (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Robert Snodgrass (West Bromwich Albion).
Post update
Richard Smallwood (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Ryan Longman (Hull City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by George Honeyman.
Substitution
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Grady Diangana replaces Callum Robinson.
Post update
Attempt missed. Karlan Grant (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Cédric Kipré following a fast break.
Post update
Corner, Hull City. Conceded by Cédric Kipré.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Callum Elder (Hull City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Richard Smallwood.
Post update
Conor Townsend (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Tom Eaves (Hull City).
Comments
Join the conversation
If they sign a better striker in January, they could still win this league.
Hull don’t score enough and that’s why they’re playing Forest Green next season.
Shame, Waylon has been to Hull and back on numerous occasions and to North Ferriby and back once…
Ya know what I mean !