McBurnie’s late strike earns dramatic first win for Jakirović

MATCH-WINNER: Oli McBurnie, right, with fellow scorer and strike partner Joe Gelhardt. Pictures courtesy of Hull City

Hull City 3 - 2 Oxford United

Sky Bet Championship

MKM Stadium

Attendance: 20,667

By Sam Hawcroft, Hull City Correspondent

Oli McBurnie struck deep into stoppage time to hand Hull City a dramatic 3-2 victory over Oxford United in their first home league game of the season.

The Tigers twice surrendered their lead in the first half before McBurnie’s decisive finish finally settled what was a thrilling contest at the MKM Stadium – one that had served up more entertainment than pretty much the whole of last season put together. That’s perhaps a slight exaggeration, but that’s how it feels, anyway…

It’s been a turbulent summer off the pitch, with City still awaiting the outcome of their appeal against the EFL’s transfer embargo, but nevertheless a raft of exciting signings – not least new boss Sergej Jakirović – has given fans reason to be cautiously optimistic, despite the dire straits the Tigers found themselves in last season. 

On the evidence of today, and the opener away at Coventry, this does not look like a relegation side. City might not quite “p*** the league”, as the meme goes, but, surely, they’ll be OK.

Thus it was, then, that more than 20,000 people returned in great anticipation of this new campaign, and the atmosphere was given a further lift with the return of the “Tigers, Tigers, Burning Bright” mashup, taking fans back to the heady days of back-to-back promotions in the early 2000s at the newly built stadium. 

The traditional round-the-grounds introduction also returned – lest we forget, the invention of the much-missed Martyn Hainstock, later carried on by Steve Jordan – whose own return to the club was met with widespread jubilation this week.

The match at last under way, City could hardly have dreamed of a better start. Barely 90 seconds in, Matt Crooks fed Cody Drameh out wide, who played in McBurnie. He slipped it through to Joe Gelhardt, who held it up well and fired home from a difficult angle to send the home crowd into early raptures.

Three minutes later, City came so close to a second when Joel Ndala’s cross from the left found McBurnie, but he scuffed his shot. Crooks pounced on the rebound from close range, but his effort was blocked.

However, Oxford hit back in the ninth minute after City failed to clear. Tyler Goodrham did well to nod the ball back from the byline to Will Lankshear, who was given way too much time and space to thump a 12-yard volley past Ivor Pandur into the bottom-right corner.

City deservedly regained the lead on 20 minutes. Gelhardt picked out McBurnie, who neatly side-footed a pass into Crooks’ path, and he showed great composure to toe-poke past Jamie Cumming for 2-1.

But this time the lead lasted only six minutes. Will Vaulks launched a long throw into the area, sparking not a little chaos in the box. John Lundstram’s headed clearance fell invitingly to Cameron Brannagan on the edge of the D, and he rifled an unstoppable strike past Pandur to level once again.

City pressed forward, Ryan Giles’ cross narrowly evading Gelhardt on 35 minutes. Five minutes later, Lankshear dragged a shot just wide, his hands-on-head reaction suggesting Pandur would have been well beaten had it been on target.

Three minutes before the break, Kasey Palmer’s pass found McBurnie, whose shot deflected narrowly over for a corner.

Early in the second half Palmer shot wide with the aid of a slight deflection, sparking a spell of pressure, though the tempo was noticeably lower than the frenetic first half. It was perhaps only to be expected that there would be a bit of a lull at some point.

In the 56th minute, Cumming did well to anticipate the oncoming Ndala after McBurnie’s through ball. Moments later Ndala won a corner, prompting more pinball in the Oxford box.

Oxford substitute Matt Phillips then flashed a shot wide, with Pandur getting the faintest of fingertip touches to send it clear. But at this point, proceedings were becoming a bit scrappy, City needing to rediscover their earlier spark if they were to secure that vital first home win.

In the 67th minute, Ndala, after taking a knock to his shoulder, departed to a standing ovation, replaced by David Akintola, the 29-year-old Nigerian winger signed in midweek. Palmer also made way for Abu Kamara.

Oxford remained dangerous, Vaulks drilling low at Pandur before Giles blazed over at the other end. 

As the game entered its final quarter, City began to build a bit more momentum, and with 10 minutes left, Gelhardt stung Cumming’s palms with a sharp effort inside the area. 

With five minutes to go, Akintola chased down Gelhardt’s pass, but was denied by the alert Cumming. Crooks and Gelhardt were then replaced by Regan Slater and Kyle Joseph, the latter soon drawing groans from the home fans when, in a great position in the area, he appeared to leave the ball behind – whether intentionally or by mistake, this wasn’t altogether clear.

Seven minutes of added time were signalled – and, four minutes later, City finally found the breakthrough. 

Kamara flicked a clever ball into the path of Giles, who advanced into the left of the area and crossed back for McBurnie, who took a touch before converting clinically with a fast right foot. 

The MKM Stadium had been buzzing for most of the match, but had there been a roof, it would have lifted off, such was the resulting din. McBurnie stood tall and drank in the adulation… what a time, what a moment, what a man! 

But this is City, and even with just three or so more minutes to play, there was still time for a bit more heart-stopping drama as Oxford surged forward again. In the middle of it all, Jakirović earned a touchline booking – and even more kudos from the home fans – for apparently kicking the ball back on to the field.

McBurnie was withdrawn to a rapturous ovation, replaced by Akin Famewo, and the Tigers saw out the last couple of minutes to secure their first home win of the season after a pulsating contest.

It’s early days, of course, but it really does seem like the feelgood factor has returned to the MKM Stadium. City look like a genuinely exciting team to watch again – and that has been a long, long time coming.

But it’s not all about what happens on the pitch; the club has also clearly listened to fans’ pleas on social media to restore certain much-loved elements of the pre-match build-up. If the MKM can become a cauldron once again, then we might just be in for the kind of rollercoaster season supporters have been yearning for.