Slutsky out as Hull fail to stop the rot

HULL City boss Leonid Slutsky was sacked last night after just six months in charge.

the former Russia coach was appointed as successor to Marco Silva in June and spoke of returning the club to the Premier League. However, they are three points above the Championship relegation zone after a run of two wins in 15 matches.

Hull did salvage a stoppage-time 2-2 draw at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday but that was not enough to save the 46-year- old. Sources say that Slutsky (below) was popular among the players because of his jovial manner but they had lost faith in his tactics.

His departure leaves the club searching for their fourth manager in 18 months following Steve Bruce, Mike Phelan and Silva. Former Southampton manager Nigel Adkins is an early frontrunner to take over.

Wednesday manager Carlos Carvalhal was sent to the stands for protesting after officials failed to spot a handball by Hull’s Michael Dawson that he believed should have led to a penalty.

‘the defender acted like a goalkeeper,’ fumed Carvalhal. ‘We have lost 10 points through bad decisions and with them i would be in a different position this season.’

HOLLOWAY NEEDLE MATCH

iAN HOLLOWAy got his first tattoo this week, inked on the arm by his son Will. But it was back to a more familiar needle with referees for the QPR manager.

Holloway spent almost an hour with referee Jeremy Simpson after their 1-0 loss at Preston, questioning the sending-off of Jamie Mackie for a foul on tom Clarke, then Alex Baptiste after the final whistle for dissent. ‘Now i’ve got two sendingoffs in a game where i didn’t see a bad foul,’ Holloway moaned. Jordan Hugill’s late winner sent Rangers down to 18th.

DERBY MAKING MERRY

tHeRe must be something tasty in Derby’s advent calendars. the Rams have not lost in their last 16 matches played in December after Johnny Russell broke down the stubborn resistance of Burton.

And thanks to Russell, the players can now get their Christmas shopping done. ‘they’re off until Wednesday,’ revealed boss Gary Rowett. ‘But if they’d lost they’d have been in tomorrow.’

GOAL OF THE WEEK

KIERAN DOWELL (for Nottingham

Forest at Ipswich): the everton playmaker, 20, is excelling on loan, curling home a 25-yard free-kick. But it was in a losing cause as ipswich won 4-2.