Debutants shine for Tigers
Sam Clucas and Chuba Akpom got Hull's Sky Bet Championship season off to a strong start with debut goals in a 2-0 win over Huddersfield at the KC Stadium.
Former Chesterfield winger Clucas opened the scoring after 38 minutes when his first effort from an Ahmed Elmohamady cross came back off Huddersfield keeper Alex Smithies and he netted the rebound.
Arsenal loanee Akpom added a second when he shot high into the goal after working space on the right side of the area.
Hull deserved all three points as they controlled the game well, with Michael Dawson and Curtis Davies in control at the back.
Huddersfield, despite being set up defensively, were marshaled well by experienced Dean Whitehead in midfield and battled gamely but rarely threatened.
Hull's first attack saw Ryan Taylor send the ball forward, but Akpom was unable to latch on to the pass.
Joel Lynch had to cut out a centre from Elmohamady after he got free down the right.
Tom Smith picked up the first booking when he brought down Andy Robertson midway through the half.
Isaac Hayden was booked shortly after for a foul on Jonathan Hogg.
Lynch did well to head out for a corner under pressure from Elmohamady, but at the resulting set-piece, taken by Taylor, Akpom was penalised for a foul.
Hull deservedly took the lead when Elmohamady crossed from the right and Clucas marked his debut with the opening goal.
The winger was unmarked running in at the far post and when his first close range effort came back off Smithies he followed up to slot the ball into the roof of the net.
Akpom shot left-footed just past a post as Hull started the second half brightly.
They were nearly caught out when Huddersfield left-back Jason Davidson got behind the defence only to volley high and wide from Jacob Butterfield's flighted ball.
Huddersfield manager Chris Powell changed his system when he brought on Ishmael Miller for Smith after 64 minutes.
Hull boss Steve Bruce responded immediately by exchangingTaylor for Sone Aluko, with Elmohamady going to right-back.
Huddersfield twice went close as Allan McGregor saved from Butterfield before Nahki Wells saw his shot deflected for a corner.
Akpom became the second debutant to score as he fired high into the Huddersfield goal from the right side of the area after 71 minutes as Hull made their dominance pay.
Smithies did well to deny Clucas a third, stopping the Hull man's rising shot in stoppage time.
The hosts, though, had already done enough to seal the win.
Source: PA
