The Tigers left it late to snatch a crucial away victory
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
17:06, 31 Jan 2026Updated 17:06, 31 Jan 2026
Hull City’s Lewis Koumas celebrates scoring(Image: PA)
Lewis Koumas came off the bench on his debut to light up Ewood Park and give Hull City a precious 1-0 win at struggling Blackburn Rovers to move third in the Championship.
In a familiar tale of games against Rovers this season, City found it tough to create chances and for the third occasion this term, couldn’t find a way to breach their resolute back line.
For much of a drab contest, Sergej Jakirovic’s men were second best and looked disjointed, but Koumas slotted in nine minutes from time after lovely build-up play, arguably the only bit of quality in the game.
A fourth consecutive win keeps the Tigers firmly in the hunt for promotion, and while it wasn’t pretty, at this stage of the season it matters little.
Jakirovic made just one change from the side that overcame Swansea City a week ago, with John Lundstram starting his first game since leaving the win over Sheffield United in October, coming in for Kyle Joseph. Amir Hadziahmetovic started in the number 10 role.
New signings Paddy McNair and Lewis Koumas were named on the bench, though Toby Collyer was deemed quite ready to feature as he continues to step up his recovery from a calf problem. Given there were six other loanees, Joel Ndala was the one to miss out.
Roared on by a vociferous away backing, City started well and fashioned the first chance inside four minutes when Gelhardt was just edged out looking to head on target, and from here, Charlie Hughes’ drive was deflected into the path of Amir, and his shot was blocked.
After a good spell from the home side, City forced an effort on goal when Slater won the ball well and drove into the box before shooting low and forcing a good save from Toth in the Rovers goal.
City were well below par, and giving the away with concerning ease, and were unable to keep it for long enough to get any momentum going forward with Todd Cantwell pulling the strings.
Highly-rated full-back Ryan Alebiosu glided into the box before curling towards the far corner, only to meet the diving hand of Ivor Pandur to turn away. City, from the corner, broke with Millar but he saw his shot smothered.
Cantwell was then booked for a nasty challenge on McBurnie, which enraged the City man, who clearly felt it should have been more, racing to remonstrate with the assistant closest to it.
In truth, it was a drab first half and another 46 minutes where City struggled to carve out chances, with the clock rising to more than 300 minutes of football this season against Rovers, where they’ve failed to score.
Lewis Miller was introduced at the start of the second period in place of Ryan Alebiosu, who had been one of Rovers’ better players in the first period.
Moussa Baradji replaced Forshaw just before the hour, shortly after City had concerns over Hughes following a lengthy spell of treatment inside his own box.
Pandur saved well to deny Ohashi’s header at the back post, as the hosts continued to offer more going forward, and a sticky performance from the Tigers continued.
It was little surprise when Jakirovic made a double change on the hour, bringing on Hirakawa and Kieran Dowell for Lundstram and Millar, moments after Jorgensen had headed over the bar.
De Neve and Gudjohnsen were sent on with 25 minutes to go and City still toiling, finding it impossible to break the hosts down. That chance did come when Yu headed a cross down and somehow, Dowell blazed over from six yards out.
Matty Jacob replaced Famewo with 20 minutes left, closely followed by Kyle Joseph and Lewis Koumas for his debut and what an impact it was.
Neat one-touch football between Amir and Joseph saw him turn it through for Koumas to run on and slot under Toth in front of 3,000 away fans. McLoughlin was booked for his protests at what he felt was an offside.
Joseph should have sealed it when he was put through, but Toth made a fine save to keep Rovers in the game, and despite seven minutes of added time, Jakirovic’s men notched up another three points and clean sheet.
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Blackburn Rovers: Toth, Alebiosu, O’Riordan, Cashin, McLoughlin, Tronstad, Forshaw, Morishita, Cantwell (c), Jorgensen, Ohashi. Subs: Michalski, Pickering, Gudjohnsen, Miller, De Neve, Carter, Baradji, Montgomery, Doherty
Hull City: Pandur, Famewo, Hughes, Egan, Coyle, Lundstram, Amir, Slater, Millar, McBurnie, Gelhardt. Subs: Phillips, McCarthy, McNair, Koumas, Hirakawa, Joseph, Dowell, Jacob, Parker
Referee: Thomas Bramall
Man of the Match: Amir Hadziahmetovic
Attendance: 13,769 (3,000 from Hull City)
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