All Ads up to victory and a rare away win
HULL ended a run of nine Championship games without a win as they notched a rare success on the road.
Forest’s last win over Hull at the City Ground had come in 1977, when Brian Clough was in charge.
And they rarely looked like emerging triumphant against Nigel Adkins’ side from the moment the visitors took the lead in the ninth minute.
That goal came via a Jon Toral header – less than a minute after he had seen a penalty saved by Costel Pantilimon – with Harry Wilson sliding home the second in the 38th minute.
It continued a frustrating start to life for Aitor Karanka as Forest manager, with the Spaniard having now lost five of his first six games in charge.
But it was a change in fortunes for the Tigers, who had collected only 11 points from their previous 33 away games, with their last away success having been at Barnsley in October.
Adkins said: “The lads are working extremely hard – it’s great for Jon Toral to go and score a goal from a header and the second goal was counter-attacking football at its best.”
Hull should have been in front when Wilson cut across Eric Lichaj in the box and referee Oliver Langford judged that the Forest man had used a hand to impede his progress and pointed to the spot.
Toral looked confident enough but Pantilimon had other ideas, diving low to his right to claw away his penalty, with Joe Worrall clearing the loose ball over the bar.
If Forest thought the job was done, they were mistaken. Seb Larsson delivered the resulting corner back into the danger zone and Toral had the time and space to send a simple header into the back of the net from five yards.
And, in the 38th minute, the Tigers took a stronger hold on the game by doubling their advantage. Will Keane powered into space down the right and drove in a low ball and Wilson drove it high into the net from close range.
Karanka said: “I understand the crowd’s frustration but again I am confident.”