Super-sub Noah Ohio keeps Hull City's play-off dream alive after Coventry triumph
Noah Ohio was the hero as he came off the bench to score the winner for Hull City at play-off rivals Coventry City to win a pulsating Championship contest 3-2 and keep their dreams of finishing inside the top six alive.
A dominant half-hour was rewarded when Jaden Philogene fired the Tigers in front with a fizzing effort at the near post, but that lead lasted barely three minutes when Kasey Palmer rattled in a free-kick from just outside the box, after a rare Sky Blues' attack but right on half-time, the menacing Delap was fouled and after a lengthy stoppage, Fabio Carvalho slammed the ball home to regain the lead.
The hosts were level early in the second period when Bobby Thomas headed in Jay Dasilva's deep cross just before the hour mark after a busy opening. If City needed some inspiration in the closing stages, it came from Ohio, who stepped off the bench and put his side in the lead with a persistent finish.
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After eight minutes of added time and pressure from the hosts, City finally saw the game out and gave their travelling supporters an 11th away victory to cherish, and now it rolls into the weekend.
Rosenior made one change from the side who drew 0-0 at Watford on Saturday with Liam Delap returning to the starting XI at the expense of Ozan Tufan, who dropped to the bench. Tufan was joined on the bench by Noah Ohio, but there was no place in the squad for Aaron Connolly nor the injured Anass Zaroury. It was Delap's first start since the defeat at Sheffield Wednesday on New Year's Day.
The Tigers boss was forced to watch from the stands having been given a touchline ban by the FA, after picking up his latest caution on Saturday, and he'd have been impressed by what he saw early on.
The visitors made a bright start on a bright but chilly evening in the Midlands and probably should have taken a fifth-minute lead through Greaves. Omur's dipping shot was turned behind by goalkeeper Brad Collins and from a second consecutive corner, Greaves found himself in space in the middle of the box but blazed over.
City continued to control the contest and created themselves another decent opening when Philogene eased his way past Joel Latibeaudiere inside the box before pulling it back for Morton who awkwardly spooned it over the bar. Another spell of Tigers' control ensured before Jones headed straight at Collins.
Just after the half-hour, Rosenior's side did get the goal their dominance deserved when Philogene's shot beat Collins at his near post and squirmed into the back of the net, but unfortunately, that lead lasted barely three minutes.
Straight on the attack, Godden won a free-kick just outside the box and from that, Kasey Palmer struck directly into the back of Allsop's net. City punished out of nothing, having worked their way into the lead. One moment and that work all undone. Philogene forced a smart reaction save from Collins as the visitors looked to regain the lead before the break, and to their credit, after a rocky five minutes, Rosenior's side regained their composure - and the lead - when Delap's powerful run was ended by Latibeaudiere inside the box, and from the spot, Carvalho slammed in amid protests from the hosts that play should have been stopped with a Sky Blue player down further up the pitch.
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A melee then followed with the players flapping their hands at each other, Eccles and Sheaf for Coventry with Philogene and Carvalho cautioned for City.
Robins made a double change at the start of the second period sending on his two main strikers, Haji Wright and Ellis Simms for Matty Godden and Jake Bidwell, and their bright start was rewarded with an equaliser, but given the way the game was playing out, it was;'t without controversy.
It appeared the ball went behind City's dead-ball line, and then in came the cross from wide on the left which was met by Bobby Thomas at the back post to head down and into the bottom corner. Coventry level just shy of the hour, and that sparked City into their first change, with Lewie Coyle replacing Morton.
For all the control City enjoyed in the first half, they had none in the second. Rosenior therefore made his second change of the game with Ryan Giles replacing Jacob with 20 minutes to go, and then followed Tufan and Ohio shortly after for Omur and Delap, and Ohio scored with his first touch, forcing the ball into the net after the goalkeeper took an age.
City back in front with just over 10 minutes to go and the home crowd stunned. Eight minutes of time were added and City needed Allsop to make a terrific save, Greaves to head away and that was that, a huge away win for the Tigers and their season still alive.
Bring on the Tractor Boys. 8pm MKM Stadium. Saturday night, see you there.
City: Allsop, Jacob, Greaves, Jones, Slater, Morton, Seri, Philogene, Omur, Carvalho, Delap. Subs: Ingram, Coyle, Giles, McLoughlin, Tufan, Ohio, Traore, Sharp, Christie.
Coventry: Collins; Latibeaudiere, Thomas, Binks, Bidwell; Sheaf, Kelly; Eccles, Palmer, Dasilva; Godden. Subs: Wilson (GK), Kitching, van Ewijk, Allen, Simms, Wright, Lusala, Andrews, Dausch.
Referee: Leigh Doughty
Attendance: 25,023