Tiger Tufan holds his nerve to put in roar-some display

HULL boss Shota Arveladze praised the mental strength of Ozan Tufan as the Tigers came from behind to grab the points.

Turkish international Tufan, 27, started the comeback from the spot to cap an impressive debut for the Championship side.

The ex-Watford star left the field soon after to a standing ovation before Jean Michael Seri’s wickedly deflected winner sent the MKM Stadium wild deep into stoppage time. But it was Tufan who provided the perfect answer to his critics.

He slotted into the top corner in the 72nd minute after sub Benjamin Tetteh was fouled by Bristol City debutant Kal Naismith.

Arveladze said: ”Ozan showed his quality.

“I think it shows that his head is in the right place.

“Today was only 70 minutes but tomorrow he will be fitter and there is so much potential there.”

The Robins might have known it wasn’t going to be their day arriving at the ground in a fleet of taxis after their bus broke down leaving the team hotel.

Last season’s top scorer Andi Weimann had put them in front on the halfhour with a volley.

But boss Nigel Pearson believed it was a story of two penalties – one given, one not.

He said: “The penalty was pivotal. The one on Rob Atkinson where he’s pulled down is not pleasant viewing. We were very unlucky with the winner.”

HULL: Ingram 7; Greaves 6, Figueiredo 7, Jones 6; Allahyar 7 (Covil (83)

4), Slater 6, Seri 7, Coyle 7; Tufan 8 (Docherty (73) 5), Estupinan 7 (Tetteh (64) 5), Smith 5 (Elder (73rd) 5)

BRISTOL CITY: Bentley 7; Vyner 6, Naismith 7, Atkinson 7 (Klose (88)

3); Sykes 6 (Wilson (60) 4), James 6, Williams 6, Scott 5 (Conway (60) 6), DaSilva 6; Weimann 7, Martin 7

STAR MAN: Ozan Tufan. Looked a class apart as he stretched the Robins rearguard, hitting the woodwork before calmly slotting home from the spot.

REF: D Whitestone 7