Weimann’s double piles early pressure on Rangers
THE fourth anniversary of Hull City’s last foray in the Europa League may have brought into sharp focus just how fast the club’s slide has been since those heady days under Steve Bruce.
But a double from Jackson Irvine did, at least, ensure supporters were last night able to set aside the ‘if onlys’ and ‘what ifs’ for a few moments and toast a much-needed first victory of the Championship season.
Fraizer Campbell got the other goal as the Tigers claimed a rare league victory in Rotherham, their first in the town for more than a quarter of a century.
It was a deserved three points, even allowing for Paul Warne’s Millers taking the lead through Richard Wood and then staging a late attacking onslaught after Jamie Proctor had cut the deficit to a solitary goal 15 minutes from time.
In Irvine, City had the best player on the pitch. His movement and vision caused all manner of problems for the home defence, while Evandro and Campbell also shone in attack before being replaced as Hull battled to withstand that late aerial barrage.
All three deserved to be on the winning side, as did Jarrod Bowen after a polished display in attack that was only lacking a finishing touch in front of goal.
This attacking enterprise meant City marked in style the fourth anniversary of their Europa League trip to Belgian side Lokeren, which was lost 1-0 en route to a qualifying round exit on away goals for the FA Cup runners-up.
As for the Millers, this was an evening when there was plenty of honest endeavour and much to build on.
The aerial threat posed by Rotherham means few teams will enjoy coming to the New York Stadium this term. early on but his header from a Zak Vyner cross bounced just past the post.
Manning also curled a shot just wide moments before Hull’s fightback got under way.
Irvine, a big threat to Rotherham all night, brought the Tigers level in the 28th minute with a sweet finish after being picked out by Evandro.
Adkins’s relief was evident as he dashed to the touchline with his arms raised.
His night got even better on the stroke of half-time, Campbell this time applying a deft finish to an Eric Lichaj cross after Millers goalkeeper Marek Rodak had failed to clear his lines with a punch.
Hull took just two minutes of the second half to extend that lead. Campbell’s determination proved too much for Semi Ajayi, who he dispossessed 25 or so yards from the home goal.
A quick pass to Bowen was followed by the ball being moved to Irvine, who fired a crisp shot past Rodak.
Further chances followed for the Tigers as Campbell fired just wide and Irvine threaded Bowen through only for the City man to be crowded out.
Rodak then denied Bowen and Will Keane in quick succession, moments after Irvine had squandered an opportunity to grab the matchball when firing over when well placed.
This profligacy almost came back to haunt City, whose advantage was reduced to just a solitary goal when Proctor headed in Vyner’s right-wing cross.
Cue a siege on the visitors’ goal that came oh so close to yielding an equaliser for Warne’s Millers men.
Ajayi, pressed into service as a makeshift attacker in those closing stages, went close with an acrobatic overhead kick.
Then Wood headed straight at goalkeeper Marshall after City had failed to clear a Manning free-kick.
As United continued to bombard the visitors’ goal, there was still time for one more glorious chance but Ajayi was unable to capitalise as Hull held on to claim a first league win in Rotherham since the February, 1993, trip to Millmoor. QPR extended their unwanted 100 per cent record in the SkyBet Championship with a fourth successive defeat after losing 3-0 at home to Bristol City.
Andreas Weimann struck twice after Matty Taylor had opened the scoring just before half-time as Steve McLaren’s side’s defensive woes continued, with 13 now conceded in four matches.
After back-to-back league defeats Derby returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Ipswich.
Joe Ledley’s 25-yard strike on the hour broke the deadlock and Tom Lawrence’s free-kick from similar distance gave Frank Lampard his second win as a Championship manager.
Burnley’s Europa League playoff trip to Olympiakos will be screened on Eleven Sports after a late deal was struck.
The Clarets’ visit to Istanbul Basaksehir in the previous qualifying round was not broadcast in the UK or Ireland but the newly-launched streaming service have stepped in to show Thursday’s game in Greece.
The club will also be hosting a screening in the Turf Moor fan zone for local supporters who have not made the journey to Athens.
Eleven Sports already have agreements in place to show the Primera Division, Serie A and the Eredivisie.
Peterborough and Portsmouth both retained their 100 per cent record with late winners, retaining the top two places in League One.
Posh looked to have settled on a goalless draw at Charlton until an 89th-minute penalty award changed the game.
Jason Cummings took the responsibility and successfully converted to keep his side at the summit.
Pompey also left it late, Gareth Evans’s opener having been cancelled out by a Chris Lines penalty in the 76th minute.
But Lines was sent off for a bad challenge just moments later, inviting the visitors on and leading to Ronan Curtis’s decisive effort three minutes from time.
Walsall also maintained their unbeaten run with a comfortable 3-1 defeat of AFC Wimbledon.
Luton landed their first win, 2-0 over Southend, as Elliott Lee and Danny Hylton settled things early.