Hull 1 West Brom 2: Albion hold out for first win in nine games

Carlos Corberan's side ended a joint-club record of six draws in a row to climb to fifth in the Championship with a first victory since September 21.

Karlan Grant's deflected effort was a seventh career goal against the Tigers on 11 minutes and Josh Maja made it two with his ninth goal of the season six minutes later as the home crowd jeered for the sacking of home boss Tim Walter.

Hull struck back, though, with Joao Pedro's fine header before the break. The visitors got the job done albeit in fairly unconvincing style in the second half.

Corberan's men defended well for the important three points but offered next-to-no threat after the interval.

Albion's boss was proactive with early changes, some of which did blunt his side. 

Hull's Regan Slater missed the game's big second-half chance in a rare lapse at the back but the Baggies were otherwise solid.

It was one of the more important wins of Corberan's 100 games in charge as the boss clocked up a century. The Spaniard was in no mood to celebrate the milestone before the game with his side struggling.

It was not a swashbuckling or convincing second half but Albion got the job done and there was a feeling in the significance of celebration at full-time between fans, players, staff and Corberan.

Not for the first time of late Grant partnered Maja up front for Corberan's side. Against Burnley it was supported by a deeper John Swift in a central role but this time Mikey Johnston was the replacement and enjoyed himself on the left flank.

It worked a treat early on with Johnston in particular showing multiple flashes of his loan form with direct running at scared Hull defenders.

A goal has been so hard to come by of late, especially at home, but the Baggies needed just 11 minutes to net on Humberside.

It was a strike made from the Baggies' left. Left-back Callum Styles, challenged by Corberan to be an offensive threat, worked the ball to Johnston and he drove at multiple Tigers bodies. The ball was worked to Grant on the left side of the box.

Grant shuffled on to his right and let fly. He saw multiple efforts blocked on Thursday night, but this time all a deflection did was deceive goalkeeper Ivor Pandur and the ball flew in high for the winger's seventh career goal against Hull.

Boos came early from the locals, along with chants of "sacked in the morning" aimed at head coach Walter.

To their credit the hosts were willing in attack and inches from a leveller soon after. A well-worked move dropped to midfielder Xavier Simons on the edge of the box and his first-time strike cracked the underside of the crossbar. It was a warning shot.But Corberan's men put the clash further beyond Hull as the MKM Stadium turned more toxic as Maja was allowed to ghost in for a second.

It was a goal that would delight Corberan as Johnston again dazzled beyond his full-back and lofted in a fine cross. Darnell Furlong met it powerfully at the back post and his header across goal allowed Maja to creep in and convert simply from three yards out.

Hull were all at sea and there for the taking. A commitment to passing in their own third left defenders petrified.

The game should've been out of sight as, for some reason, Maja refused to shoot in space from 10 yards after Hull had lost the ball. Grant found the top scorer who instead looked to find Jayson Molumby, who was crowded out. The Tigers' defence left an ocean of space to play in.

Albion were sloppy on the ball at times and a Hull willingness to attack saw the hosts back into the contest. The visitors had to do some defending but could not do anything about a Pedro header five minutes before the break.

Alex Palmer opted to punch rather than claim a cross and, from there, Albion didn't recover. Defender Charlie Hughes whipped in a fine cross from the right and Pedro's powerful header across goal into the top corner left Palmer rooted.

Hull edged the early moments of the second period and Corberan wasted no time to send on Grady Diangana and Lewis Dobbin, perhaps owing in-part to a busy turnaround this week.

Albion were hugely fortunate as Mason Holgate sold Furlong short and a resulting cross for the unmarked Slater was headed over. It was gilt-edged for the hosts.Sub Dobbin, at times, was a rare second-half bright spark. Impressive defender Torbjorn Heggem's ambitious overhead kick from 12 yards was tipped over by Pandur.

The Baggies were uninspiring in the second period but bar one or two dicing with death moments defended well and Corberan well and truly closed the shutters as Jed Wallace and Ousmane Diakite were introduced.

Albion shored it up and it paid off. Palmer saved late from Abdus Omur and Pedro headed well over but it was job just-about well done.

Hull City (4-3-3): Pandur; Coyle (c), Hughes, Jones, Drameh; Simons (Palmer, 82), Puerta (Bedia, 90); Burstow (Longman, 70), Slater, Omur; Pedro.Subs not used: Racioppi, Giles, McLoughlin, Sinik, Burns, Jacob.Albion (4-4-2): Palmer; Furlong (c), Holgate, Heggem, Styles; Fellows (Dobbin, 54), Molumby, Mowatt (Racic, 65), Johnston (Diakite, 79); Grant (Wallace, 79), Maja (Diangana, 54).Subs not used: Wildsmith, Nelson, Swift, Cole.Attendance: 20,538Referee: Andrew Kitchen