Make mine a treble says goal ace Kieran
A FIRST senior hat-trick by Kieran Dowell earned Forest victory at Hull to move them within one point of the play-off places.
The on-loan Everton midfielder grabbed all three goals for the visitors to secure maximum points despite late strikes from Jarrod Bowen and Michael Hector.
In the build-up to the match, Tigers fans protested about their frustrations with owner Assem Allam.
And those protests spilled on to the pitch in the 19th minute when a section of supporters threw yellow balls on to chants of: “We want Allam out”, stopping play for several minutes.
Academy graduate Bowen created the first opportunity in the fifth minute when he worked his way into the Forest area but his cross was dealt with by Tendayi Darikwa.
Dowell, an Under-20s World Cup winner with England in the summer, drilled in a 25-yard stunner to give the visitors a half-time lead.
A loose pass was picked up by Dowell just inside the Tigers half before driving to the edge of the area and unleashing a strike into the top corner which left Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor with no chance.
There was a decent opportunity for Hull when Kamil Grosicki tested the hands of Jordan Smith in the Forest goal before the shot-stopper brilliantly denied David Meyler from close range moments later in a goalmouth scramble.
Dowell grabbed his second with a calm first-time effort with 19 minutes remaining. He curled Barrie McKay’s lay-off in off the post.
Bowen halved the deficit almost instantly with a curling effort from 20 yards.
But Dowell completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Tyler Walker was hauled down six minutes from time.
Centre-back Hector ensured their was late drama when he smashed in from close range with three minutes left.
But the visiting side held on to secure back-to-back victories for just the second time this season.