What Hull City owner Acun Ilicali did at full time after Hull City's pivotal win at Stoke City

-Credit: (Image: Anna Gowthorpe/REX/Shutterstock)
-Credit: (Image: Anna Gowthorpe/REX/Shutterstock)


Hull City's 3-1 win at Stoke City ended their long wait for a victory under Tim Walter, a result that sees them ease away from the bottom of the early season table.

Liam Millar, Regan Slater and man of the match Kasey Palmer inspired the Tigers to a victory which didn't look likely when Ben Wilmot crashed in a thumping header on the half-hour mark, ending a run of 149 days since supporters last saw their side taste victory.

A dominant second half display, their best yet by some distance under Walter, saw City score three second half goals in just 16 minutes, including two in two, to take the game away from the hosts and inflict defeat for Narcis Pelach in his first game in charge, and ease some of the growing pressure on the German boss.

READ MORE: Omur and Zambrano injury latest after pair leave Hull City win at Stoke City early

Feel the relief

Those celebrations at full-time were great to see. For the first time in months, there were genuine smiles on faces in the away end and down on the pitch in front of them.

It might not be a popular thing to say amongst some, but the pressure was building on Walter and he needed this victory and deserves credit for the way in which he got his team to respond after conceding the Wilmot goal, because, from that moment on, the pendulum swung largely in City's favour, with the second period basically one-way traffic and driven in part by Liam Millar.

It's been a pretty dismal run of results since City last won at Coventry City on April 24 - 149 days prior - and to get that three points just lifts the mood, puts smiles on faces and means the birthday cake on Thursday will taste a little sweeter.

A big turnaround

City were OK in the first half without ever looking like putting the ball in the back of net. It was a fairly even game in truth, but the hosts had the better chances aside from the goal. One inside a minute through Bae Junho and then just before the break when Million Manhoef went one-on-one with Ivor Pandur but smashed wide.

Omur coming off injured at the break swung the game in City's favour with the way Liam Millar impacted the game helped. The Potters badly lost their way. They gave the ball away cheaply and stopped pressing which enabled the Tigers to play further up the pitch.

Possibly key to the way City were able to give themselves a platform in the game was the responsibility placed on Oscar Zambrano in the number six role. Walter seemingly abandoned his desire to be so open in midfield, instead asking the Ecuadorian to be more disciplined and it made a difference.

Acun watching

While the Tigers owner rarely misses a home game, his appearances at away matches are a little less frequent and this was his first visit on the road.

Jetting in for the game, Ilicali watched on from the bet365 stands and will have been a frustrated figure at half time but his delight was obvious after the second half turnaround with him celebrating pitch-side with Walter and vice-chairman Tan Kesler.

In dismissing Liam Rosenior and appointing Walter, Ilicali has put his neck on the line with this appointment. Given how it's started, he has come in for some heavy criticism, and not only from his own supporters. He, more than most, needs this to work and his relief at getting this victory in the manner they did will have been palpable.

Ilicali will be back at the MKM Stadium next Saturday and will expect to see this result backed up by beating Cardiff City in front of the home crowd.

One swallow and all that

There seem to be two camps just at the moment in terms of supporters. You're either Walter in or Walter Out and the two are at loggerheads with each other. One win suddenly doesn't make everything OK and mean we should write off everything that's happened before. City have been poor, Walter has looked out of his depth at times, albeit in difficult circumstances and frankly, things have not been great.

Those things shouldn't be written off, nor should those fans, pundits, ex-players or journalists raising their concerns be bullied, abused or ostracised. Those concerns are legitimate and have a foundation, whether you like it or not.

Everybody associated with City cares for the club, wants them to win every week and ultimately be successful. Everybody will also hope this result proves to be the springboard for Walter and his players to go on and put a run together. But equally, the issues we've all seen, suddenly shouldn't be erased from history and forgotten based on one victory over a fairly poor Stoke side, as promising as that second half was.

Back on home turf

Next up for the Tigers are bottom side Cardiff City in what's another huge outing for the Tigers in front of their home support who haven't seen a victory at the MKM Stadium since early April. Cardiff host Leeds United amid growing speculation about the future of Turkish boss Erol Bulut.

At the time of writing and before their game at home to the Whites, the Bluebirds have lost four of their five outings with their only draw - and goal - coming in the derby at Swansea City.

Perhaps the narrative around the game has changed a little with this victory, but as Regan Slater told us afterwards, three points in the Potteries will mean little if City don't go and beat Cardiff and end that even longer wait for a home victory.