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HullHull City2NorwichNorwich City1

Hull City 2-1 Norwich City: Oscar Estupinan earns Tigers win over Canaries

Oscar Estupinan (left) celebrates scoring for Hull against Norwich
Colombia international Oscar Estupinan (left) joined Hull on a two-year deal in July

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

Home TeamHullAway TeamNorwich
Possession
Home30%
Away70%
Shots
Home13
Away18
Shots on Target
Home4
Away12
Corners
Home2
Away11
Fouls
Home15
Away6

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Hull City 2, Norwich City 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Hull City 2, Norwich City 1.

  3. Post update

    Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Matt Ingram.

  4. Post update

    Attempt saved. Marcelino Núñez (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.

  5. Booking

    Allahyar Sayyadmanesh (Hull City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  6. Post update

    Marcelino Núñez (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Allahyar Sayyadmanesh (Hull City).

  8. Post update

    Grant Hanley (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Vaughn Covil (Hull City).

  10. Post update

    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.

  11. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Aaron Ramsey (Norwich City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Onel Hernández.

  12. Post update

    Foul by Marcelino Núñez (Norwich City).

  13. Post update

    Vaughn Covil (Hull City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Onel Hernández (Norwich City).

  15. Post update

    Lewie Coyle (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  16. Substitution

    Substitution, Hull City. Randell Williams replaces Ozan Tufan.

  17. 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.

  18. Post update

    Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Alfie Jones.

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Hull City. Vaughn Covil replaces Óscar Estupiñán.

  20. 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.

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As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Hull32104227
2Watford32103127
3Blackburn22004046
4Millwall32015416
5Cardiff32013216
6Sunderland31206515
7Preston31201015
8Rotherham21105144
9QPR31115504
10Burnley31112204
11Birmingham31112204
12Swansea311124-24
13Sheff Utd21012113
14Huddersfield31024403
15Wigan30302203
16Stoke310235-23
17Blackpool310213-23
18Reading310226-43
19West Brom20202202
20Luton302112-12
21Coventry201134-11
22Middlesbrough201134-11
23Bristol City301246-21
24Norwich301224-21
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