Match ends, Hull City 2, Norwich City 1.
Oscar Estupinan's first goals for Hull City set the hosts on their way to a second win in three unbeaten Championship games and left winless Norwich City with just one point from a sorry start to life back in the second tier.
The Colombian finished from close range late in the first half to put the Tigers ahead when a sloppy Max Aarons clearance fell kindly after hitting team-mate Andrew Omobamidele.
And Estupinan put an increasingly confident home side 2-0 up just after the hour, gleefully striking his second goal in English football from a goalmouth melee after an Ozan Tufan corner caused chaos.
Norwich, who dominated possession and had 10 attempts on goal inside the first 25 minutes, struggled to create chances after falling behind until a frantic final 20 minutes which saw Marcelino Nunez crash in a wonderful 30-yard free-kick to make it 2-1 and Aston Villa loanee Aaron Ramsey miss a glorious opportunity to snatch a point.
Ramsey somehow shot over from four yards following an Aarons cross and then had an effort cleared off the line.
But all the late dominance could not prevent Dean Smith's side continuing a miserable run which has seen them win just once in 19 league games - stretching back to last season.
A first Championship win of the season had looked on the cards after an an energetic start against a Hull side, who move second in the table despite being on the back foot for the majority of the opening period.
The visitors were slick in their passing and quick to press, new recruit Nunez and Teemu Pukki both forcing excellent saves from keeper Matt Ingram, and Pukki seeing an attempt deflected just over.
But the Tigers, knocked out the Carabao Cup by League Two side Bradford in midweek, regrouped and sensed a second win in three league games when summer signing Estupinan reacted sharply to pounce on Aarons' mistake and trickle the ball home from their first attempt on target.
Grant Hanley did go close with a header for the Canaries after the interval, but Estupinan's second looked good enough to seal the points.
The visitors, now without a win in six league visits to Hull since a 2-1 victory in April 2007, rediscovered their form from the first half, and could and should have come away with a draw.
Chile midfielder Nunez's sumptuous set-piece brought hope with just over 15 minutes remaining and Ramsey will rue the two chances he failed to convert, meaning Norwich have just one point from nine so far and are bottom of the table on goal difference.
Hull City boss Shota Arveladze:
"I'm not saying this is the best game we've played but, strategically, we did very well. I think it's a great start to the season.
"We have been watching their games and just didn't want to give them time. Maybe we started a bit too early to kill the game [after Nunez scored], but before that we had a really good game.
"In some points they dominated, but not with really clear chances; they only had one clear chance in the second half.
"You have to accept they have a stronger squad. It's a Premier League team. They dominated, definitely, but that's why we played two different systems and it worked."
Norwich City boss Dean Smith:
"It's a game we've dominated and been camped in their half. The last 25 minutes was like attack versus defence.
"We could've won in the first 15 minutes, such was our superiority and the chances we created, but we gave a calamitous goal away and it gave them something to cling to.
"We had a two or three-minute spell in the second half where we failed to do the things we had been doing previously. They ended up getting a shot from the box deflected for a corner and we didn't defend the set-piece well.
"Nunez got us a lifeline with a superb goal that lifted everybody. If Ramsey scored we'd win the game. But I don't want to be a broken record every week. We're playing well enough to win, we're just making silly errors at the moment.
"On another day, we definitely come away with three points. They'll feel they got out of jail a little bit and it's frustrating because there's some really good football there. It's just a couple of mistakes we're getting punished for at the moment."
Line-ups
Hull
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Ingram
- 2Coyle
- 6Figueiredo
- 4Greaves
- 3Elder
- 5Jones
- 27Slater
- 9SayyadmaneshBooked at 90mins
- 7TufanSubstituted forWilliamsat 80'minutes
- 30TettehSubstituted forCannonat 63'minutes
- 19EstupiñánSubstituted forCovilat 77'minutes
Substitutes
- 13Baxter
- 14Cannon
- 17McLoughlin
- 20Wilks
- 23Williams
- 28Jones
- 49Covil
Norwich
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Krul
- 2Aarons
- 4OmobamideleBooked at 23mins
- 5Hanley
- 19SørensenSubstituted forGibbsat 57'minutes
- 10DowellSubstituted forHernándezat 67'minutes
- 23McLean
- 26Núñez
- 7RashicaSubstituted forSargentat 57'minutes
- 22Pukki
- 14CantwellSubstituted forA Ramseyat 67'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Gibson
- 20A Ramsey
- 21Sinani
- 24Sargent
- 25Hernández
- 28Gunn
- 46Gibbs
- Referee:
- James Linington
- Attendance:
- 17,028
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home30%
- Away70%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away18
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away12
- Corners
- Home2
- Away11
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away6
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Hull City 2, Norwich City 1.
Post update
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Matt Ingram.
Post update
Attempt saved. Marcelino Núñez (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
Booking
Allahyar Sayyadmanesh (Hull City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Marcelino Núñez (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Allahyar Sayyadmanesh (Hull City).
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Grant Hanley (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Vaughn Covil (Hull City).
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Attempt saved. Kenny McLean (Norwich City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Aaron Ramsey.
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Attempt blocked. Aaron Ramsey (Norwich City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Onel Hernández.
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Foul by Marcelino Núñez (Norwich City).
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Vaughn Covil (Hull City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Onel Hernández (Norwich City).
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Lewie Coyle (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Hull City. Randell Williams replaces Ozan Tufan.
Post update
Attempt missed. Grant Hanley (Norwich City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Marcelino Núñez with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Alfie Jones.
Substitution
Substitution, Hull City. Vaughn Covil replaces Óscar Estupiñán.
Post update
Attempt missed. Aaron Ramsey (Norwich City) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by Joshua Sargent.
Comments
Join the conversation
Beat Huddersfield & Millwall at home this week and by Friday evening you'll be in a play-off position.
Plus - Hull will be a surprise package this season, my tip for a play-off place at worst. Good club, good proper fans, AND they hate Weeds Utd, top draw in my book.
Forget the stats, the only thing that matters is the final score, end of.
Last 5 years have been tough, so enjoy the good times, you've earned them.
Couldn’t score in the premiership and can’t score against decent sides in the championship. Went down with a whimper and only going one way.