Hull extended their unbeaten run to seven league games with a comfortable 3-1 victory at Stoke. The Tigers leapt back into the play-off places thanks mainly to a quickfire double after the half-hour mark.
Aaron Connolly opened the scoring with his fifth goal of the season after good work from the former Potters loanee Jaden Philogene. The shell-shocked hosts fell further behind a matter of seconds after the restart when Adama Traoré notched his first goal since April.
Regan Slater’s shot led to a Lynden Gooch own goal in the second half as Hull coasted towards a third successive Championship away victory for the first time since April 2013. Stoke notched a late consolation through the returning André Vidigal, but he could not prevent their winless run stretching to five league games.
The tone for the home side was set inside 13 minutes as Tyrese Campbell limped off to add to the Potters’ injury woes. Philogene – who spent six months in the Potteries in 2022 – overpowered Ben Wilmot to tee up Connolly for a simple finish as Hull took the lead. The bright Connolly was instrumental as the Tigers raced to double their advantage almost immediately.
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The Republic of Ireland forward advanced dangerously from the goalkeeper Ryan Allsop’s long pass and his blocked strike popped up invitingly for Traoré, who drilled a first-time effort on the swivel into the corner.
The visitors added a third in the second half with a long-range Slater strike deflecting off Gooch and looping over a helpless Mark Travers.
The Potters’ shining light, Vidigal, then offered his side a lifeline as he marked his return with a fifth goal of the season. After skipping beyond the challenge of Jacob Greaves, the Portuguese forward finished accurately low into Allsop’s far corner, but it was too little, too late.
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Stoke searched desperately for a late reprieve, but Hull held on for a first league victory in the Potteries since January 2006.
This story will be updated after Sunderland v Cardiff