City didn’t have it all their own way against the already-relegated Owls
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
17:05, 21 Mar 2026
Hull City players celebrate an own goal by Sheffield Wednesday
Promotion-chasing Hull City made it 10 home wins for the season with a 3-1 success over Sheffield Wednesday, to go into the international break with a morale-boosting victory which keeps them inside the top six.
City found themselves behind after some fairly average defending in trying to clear a free-kick allowed Jamal Lowe to thump past Ivor Pandur, but to their credit, they responded instantly through Matt Crooks when he slotted in from Kyle Joseph’s inch-perfect pass.
Despite struggling to create against the league’s worst team, City did find a second from Paddy McNair’s superb free-kick in added time at the end of the first period, with Dom Iorfa heading into his own net. The Tigers added some breathing space to the scoreline just before the hour when Joseph found the bottom corner with a neat finish from Oli McBurnie’s pass.
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Here’s how Tigers reporter Barry Cooper rated the players at the MKM Stadium on Saturday afternoon….
Ivor Pandur: Shaky first half. Sliced a back pass behind and flapped at a long ball over the top when John Egan let it bounce inside the box. Made a crucial save to deny Thornton at 1-1. Lovely ball found Drameh deep in the second half. Recovered well after a tough first period. 6/10
Paddy McNair: Started at left-back given all the absences and did what he had to do. Wonderful ball in for the second goal on the stroke of half-time. 7.5/10
Semi Ajayi: Like his partner, John Egan, didn’t look at ease at times in a disjointed first period where City toiled and looked soft through the middle. 6/10
John Egan: Not in any way convincing in the first half. Got himself booked for a rash challenge in the middle of the park. Almost gifted a chance when he let a long ball for Yates bounce, and Pandur came flying out. 6/10
Cody Drameh: Restored to the starting XI and found the first half really difficult up against the lively Lowe. Much better in the second, and got forward well. 7/10
Regan Slater: Tried to get his side going in the first half against a side he will have wanted to get one over, and so will have been gutted to have come off injured on the half-hour. 6/10
Matt Crooks: Some good stuff but found the central midfield position difficult at times, as he did last week at Albion. Made his presence felt going forward with an instant riposte to equalise. Collected his now weekly caution to take the tally to 12 for the season. 7/10
Kyle Joseph: Never stopped running in the first half, and tried to get some energy into what at times was a flat performance. Got himself an assist for the equaliser with a fine ball for Crooks. Really good finish to make it 3-1 from McBurnie’s pass. A fine performance. 8/10
Joe Gelhardt: Little came off for the forward, though he kept plugging away and won the free-kick from which City scored the second. Popped the ball in the net well only to see an offside flag, just before coming off. 6/10
Liam Millar: Did well early on to win it and feed McBurnie inside the box, showed some promise off the left. Inches away from setting up McBurnie. Will have felt like he should have had an assist on the day. 7/10
Oli McBurnie: Had the first sight of goal when his shot was well smothered by Pierce Charles, but struggled to get any real space. He’s a marked man nowadays. Teed up Joseph for the third, but couldn’t get his goal. It just would not go in as much as he tried. Always the focal point and never stopped. 7/10
Subs:
John Lundstram (for Slater 30): Came on early after Slater went off, and gradually worked his way into the game. Booked late on for a challenge on Fusire. 7/10
Lewis Koumas (for Gelhardt 68): Had a couple of runs at Liam Palmer, who, in fairness, did a job on the flying winger. 6/10
Amir Hadziahmetovic (for Millar 68): City probably missed his control in the first period when it was like a basketball game. 6/10
Mo Belloumi (for Crooks 79): Another useful run-out in the final stages and put those hamstrings to the test. Clipped the post in added time. Will be a big player in the final weeks. 6/10
Kieran Dowell (for Joseph 65): Earned his side a couple of useful fouls to eat up some time, but didn’t get on the ball as much as he’d have liked. 6/10
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