Match ends, Hull City 0, Swansea City 1.
Swansea City claimed a first league win under Luke Williams as Liam Cullen's goal dealt a blow to Hull City's Championship play-off hopes.
Cullen produced a clinical first-time finish from Josh Tymon's corner to give Swansea an early lead.
Cullen came closest to extending Swansea's advantage with a second-half effort which drifted narrowly wide, while Ozan Tufan wasted Hull's best chance when he headed straight at Carl Rushworth.
This was a timely triumph for Swansea, who fought hard - and showed signs of quality - to deliver head coach Williams' first Championship triumph at the fifth attempt.
Their poor form has prompted concerns over a potential spring-time relegation battle, but this notable win eases the pressure on Williams' team.
It was a frustrating afternoon for a disappointing Hull, whose attacking threat was limited even against opponents with one of the division's more porous defences.
Defeat sees Liam Rosenior's team drop out of the play-off places and into seventh, while Swansea climb to 16th, seven points clear of the bottom three.
Successive wins, some notable January signings and the recent return to fitness of Jaden Philogene had combined to lift Hull's mood as they prepared to face Swansea, yet it was the Welsh side who seized the early initiative.
Their purposeful opening was rewarded with the early set-piece goal, with Jay Fulton's subtle block on Philogene giving Cullen the time and space to steer home at the near post.
Swansea were playing with confidence, and might have doubled their advantage when Ronald crossed for fellow January recruit Przemyslaw Placheta, only for the Polish international to head across the face of goal.
Hull gradually grew into the contest, missing the chance to level when the unmarked Tufan failed to trouble Rushworth from Ryan Giles' free-kick.
On-loan Liverpool forward Fabio Carvalho shot wide from 20 yards before half-time, then a Hull counter around the hour mark left Nathan Wood scrambling back to clear off his own line after substitute Billy Sharp had beaten Rushworth to Tufan's long ball forward.
Swansea could have given themselves breathing space when Placheta's cross was nodded down by Ronald, but this time Cullen skewed his shot a foot wide of the post.
Matt Grimes saw a long-range drive pawed to safety by Ryan Allsop before Philogene forced Rushworth to save with his feet with a shot from a tight angle.
Rosenior rang the changes in an attempt to inspire a revival, but it was Swansea who came closest late on when Tymon's drive was saved by Allsop.
Hull head coach Liam Rosenior:
"I am devastated with firstly the result and secondly our performance, which was nowhere near what we have been accustomed to here.
"From minute one to their goal we were second best. I haven't had to say that too often. We didn't win enough duels today, all over the pitch.
"We didn't get the basics right. I have a confident group of players, a young group. There is confidence in this group but I felt it was over-confidence today. In the first 10-15 minutes, our intensity wasn't there.
"We didn't show enough energy or tenacity to win headers, win tackles or to press the ball. The manner that we lost the game in today is not acceptable."
Swansea head coach Luke Williams:
"To come away from home and keep a clean sheet and to win, I am really proud of the players.
"Hull are a really talented team. They are difficult to keep quiet but for the most part we did that.
"And it's not like we scored and then defended the lead, we carried on trying to score goals.
"It should give us a huge lift. I think the players should see that they have come away to a really tough opponent and won. If they can't take confidence from that… I don't know what more we need to prove it."
Line-ups
Hull
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 17Allsop
- 2CoyleSubstituted forSharpat 55'minutes
- 5Jones
- 4Greaves
- 3Giles
- 15MortonBooked at 26mins
- 27Slater
- 23Philogene
- 45CarvalhoSubstituted forÖmürat 76'minutes
- 47ZarourySubstituted forConnollyat 68'minutes
- 7TufanSubstituted forTraoréat 68'minutes
Substitutes
- 6McLoughlin
- 8Docherty
- 9Ohio
- 10Traoré
- 12Sharp
- 29Jacob
- 30Pandur
- 44Connolly
- 50Ömür
Swansea
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 22Rushworth
- 26NaughtonSubstituted forHumphreysat 74'minutesBooked at 87mins
- 5CabangoBooked at 38mins
- 23Wood
- 14Tymon
- 4FultonSubstituted forPatinoat 79'minutes
- 8GrimesBooked at 83mins
- 35Pereira MartinsSubstituted forCooperat 79'minutes
- 12Paterson
- 17PlachetaSubstituted forAllenat 67'minutes
- 20CullenSubstituted forYatesat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Fisher
- 7Allen
- 9Yates
- 18Patino
- 19Kukharevych
- 24Sagoe Jr
- 31Cooper
- 33Humphreys
- 50Lissah
- Referee:
- Geoff Eltringham
- Attendance:
- 21,017
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away5
- Corners
- Home2
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Hull City 0, Swansea City 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Charlie Patino (Swansea City) left footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the right. Assisted by Joe Allen following a fast break.
Post update
Corner, Hull City. Conceded by Oliver Cooper.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Abdülkadir Ömür (Hull City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tyler Morton (Hull City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ryan Giles with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Hull City. Conceded by Joe Allen.
Post update
Hand ball by Jerry Yates (Swansea City).
Post update
Foul by Regan Slater (Hull City).
Post update
Jamie Paterson (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match (Hull City).
Post update
Abdülkadir Ömür (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Josh Tymon (Swansea City).
Booking
Bashir Humphreys (Swansea City) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Jaden Philogene (Hull City).
Post update
Bashir Humphreys (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jaden Philogene (Hull City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Adama Traoré.
Post update
Attempt saved. Josh Tymon (Swansea City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jerry Yates.
Booking
Matt Grimes (Swansea City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Comments
Join the conversation
Good luck for the season lads
Notts County fan in peace 🕊️
Well done Swans, deserved your win today.
Total credit to Swansea. Done their homework, came with a plan and executed it very well. Nice tidy side I thought.
Good luck for the rest of the season.
A great result against a team in form.
Great 3 points
Hopefully given the boys confidence ahead of a tougher test on Tuesday night and next Saturday
COYS ⚽️⚽️🦢🦢