Mallik strike helps roar-some Tigers in promotion hunt
HULL went second in League One thanks to goals from Mallik Wilks and Hakeeb Adelakun against 10-man Burton.
Wilks fired high into the roof of the net for his fifth of the season after the ball fell to him from George Honeyman’s free-kick.
Adelakun then wrapped up victory late on when he fired a precise shot across keeper Ben Garratt – who had shone in goal for the Brewers.
Burton’s task was tough enough with six first-team players testing positive for Covid-19 and six self-isolating.
But they then had to play with 10 men for 72 minutes after Sam Hughes got two yellow cards in 11 minutes, both for fouls on Wilks.
Victory saw Hull move to within a point of leaders Peterborough, who slipped up against a galvanised Crewe, and they also now have a game in hand.
Tigers boss Grant McCann pointed to his team’s dramatic improvement after the break.
He said: “I thought the difference in the second half was that we moved the ball quicker as a team.
“The message at half-time was, ‘Don’t get frustrated, stay calm, the goal will come’.
“We couldn’t afford to get frustrated if the goal did not come in the first 15 minutes.
“We kept plugging away, moving it quickly and overloading them on the outside.’”
Hull went close early on when Jacob Greaves glanced a header wide and Wilks’ low shot whistled past the post.
Ryan Edwards poked narrowly wide for Burton after running on to a ball by Niall Ennis.
What was already a tough task became even harder with Hughes’ dismissal.
Indiana Vassilev was then forced to make way after initially being a late replacement for Kane Hemmings.
Greaves almost headed the Tigers into the lead from the resulting free-kick – but keeper Garratt pushed the ball out before he denied Wilks.
James Scott blazed over for the hosts and Honeyman’s header was tipped over by Garratt.
Neal Eardley curled a free-kick narrowly wide for Burton before Wilks put the Tigers ahead in the 62nd minute.
Adelakun shot at full stretch and his low drive was blocked by the keeper before Tom Eaves squandered a great chance after going clean through.
Brewers boss Jake Buxton praised his side’s effort with the players really up against it. Hemmings was even injured in the warm-up.
He said: “It was always going to be a big ask before the game with the bodies we were asking to go again after Tuesday night and on Sunday as well.
“But to go down to 10 men, it was going to be tough. It’s very tough to win a game away from home when you’re down to 10 men.
“In terms of effort and the week we’ve had as a club, I can’t ask any more of the players.” HULL: Ingram 7; Emmanuel 7, Burke
7, Greaves 7, Elder 7; Docherty 7 (Samuelsen (66th) 6), Honeyman 7, Smallwood 7, Mayer 6 (Eaves (45th) 6); Wilks 8, Scott 6 (Adelakun (45th) 7) BURTON: Garratt 8; Eardley 7 (Hutchinson 86th), Brayford 6, Hughes
4, Gallacher 7; Edwards 6, Quinn 6 (Bostwick (54th) 6), Lawless 6, Ennis 6; Vassilev 6 (O’Toole (20th) 6), Gilligan 6
Mallik Wilks
J Busby