Bowen the target man
JARROD BOWEN was hailed as the best goalscorer outside the Premier League after underlining his top-flight potential to shoot down Derby.
Hull’s in-form top scorer made it nine for the season with a clinical late double to seal back-to-back wins for Grant Mccann’s men.
Bowen has attracted Premier League scouts to the KCOM Stadium for the last 12 months and boss Mccann insisted: “You saw again that Jarrod is top class.
“For me, he’s the best goalscorer in this league and that’s not me overhyping him. He scored 25 goals last season and his record speaks for itself.
“He’s top drawer and no matter where he plays he’ll have an influence on a game. He’s a grounded boy who wants to get better and he works hard at his game.
“He’ll admit himself he’s got a long way to go to make the step up to the Premier League. We’d like him to stay here for another five years and we’re in discussions with him over a new deal, but we’d never stand in his way. He wants to play at the top level and hopefully that can be with us.”
Bowen settled a tight contest with two unflustered finishes in the final 16 minutes.
The 22-year-old broke the deadlock with a deft far post header after out-jumping Max Lowe to Kamil Grosicki’s lofted cross.
Unselfish Grosicki was again the supply line when with 10 minutes left Bowen buried the second from the Pole’s inviting cut-back to seal a deserved win.
Derby were neat in possession, but lacked a cutting edge in the final third to remain in the bottom half after a sixth away game without a win.
Ex-hull loan striker Chris Martin saw an effort cleared off the line by Callum Elder in first-half stoppage time and Tom Lawrence had a second-half header ruled out for a push on Hull skipper Eric Lichaj.
The Wales winger – Derby’s main attacking threat – also saw a snap shot well blocked by keeper George Long.
Rams boss Phillip Cocu claimed Lawrence’s disallowed effort was the turning point he said: “I’ve seen many goals like Tom’s given so it was a decisive moment. If it counts I think we would have gone on to win, so overall I was happy with our performance.”
HULL DERBY 4 ........ Shots on Target ......... 3 8 ........ Shots off Target .........5 7 ................Corners ..................1 11 .................. Fouls ....................8 1 ................ Offsides ..................1 76.7 .. Passing Success ...84.6 47 ......... Total Passes ........ 557 39.1 .........Possession ........ 60.9 52.3.. Territorial Adv%.... 47.7