Szmods & rockers for Tigers
.............................. 0 BLACKBURN .................... 1 Szmodics 15
By
JON DAHL TOMASSON wants more of a killer instinct from promotion-chasing Blackburn.
Sammie Szmodics’ third goal of the season sealed a fourth straight win to keep the pressure on leaders Burnley.
The Lancashire rivals go head to head at Turf Moor in a fortnight and boss Dahl Tomasson said: “It was a deserved win and we scored a very good goal. We controlled the game and the only disappointing thing was that we didn’t score more and kill off the game before half-time.
“That’s my only complaint because otherwise we were good value for the points and we’re showing great spirit.”
Szmodics had already stung the palms of keeper Nathan Baxter before the Rovers midfielder fired home the winner with a first-time finish from a narrow angle after latching on to a perfect pass from Adam Wharton in the 15th minute.
A stunning second-half save from Baxter prevented Sam Gallagher doubling the lead from a Ben Brereton-Diaz pass as Rovers failed to find a game-killing second goal.
They were almost made to pay when unmarked winger
Dimitrios Pelkas could only produce a tame header from Regan Slater’s inviting secondhalf cross.
It meant managerless Hull slid to a fourth home defeat in five games to leave them just above the drop zone.
Ex-Tigers defender Liam Rosenior is set to be named new head coach this week, and caretaker boss Andy Dawson said: “We were a lot better in the second half and made Blackburn fight for the win but paid for being too passive.”
HULL: Baxter 7; Christie 7, Figueiredo 5 (Coyle (90) 5), Jones 5 (Fleming (46) 5), Greaves 6; Woods 6, Seri 4 (Tufan (46) 6); Docherty 7 (Estupinan (67) 6), Pelkas 5, Slater 7; Longman 6 (Sinik (80) 5)
BLACKBURN: Kaminski 7; Travis 7, Hyam 7, S Wharton 7, Pickering 7; A Wharton 7 (Ayala (62) 6), Morton 6; Dolan 5 (Carter (62), 6); Szmodics 8 (Dack (71) 6), Brereton-Diaz 7; Gallagher 6 (Vale (71) 6)
STAR MAN: Sammie Szmodics – Blackburn’s match-winner never stopped running and was rewarded with the only goal.
REF: David Webb 7