Hull City 0 Southampton 1
Jose Fonte’s second-half strike saw Southampton extend their unbeaten run to six Premier League matches at Hull, who remain within touching distance of the relegation scrap.
Southampton were good value for three points, maintaining a fierce tempo throughout at the KC Stadium and creating a host of fine chances.
Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez were both in profligate mood, raising Hull’s hopes of a battling draw, but Fonte settled things in the 69th minute when he stabbed over the line at the second attempt.
The Portuguese defender needed the Goal Decision System to claim the goal, with Lambert rifling home on the follow-up after Maynor Figueroa tried in vain to clear the danger.Lambert had earlier missed a pair of wonderful chances in the opening seven minutes, while Rodriguez struck the crossbar from 20 yards. Hull were far from passengers in the contest, striking the woodwork first when Shane Long’s header kissed the inside of the post, but they could not match Saints’ energy around the park and tired visibly.
Hull goalkeeper Steve Harper clashed with team-mate Paul McShane, with both men needing treatment before the latter was taken off on a stretcher. Nikica Jelavic and Sone Aluko’s chances gave the home fans cause for late excitement on an otherwise disappointing night.
Having taken four points from Tottenham and Sunderland this month, Hull’s attempts to pull clear of the strugglers were duly stalled.
HULL CITY: Harper, McShane (Boyd 12), Davies, Bruce, Figueroa (Brady 76), Elmohamady, Livermore, Huddlestone, Meyler (Aluko 75), Jelavic, Long. Subs Not Used: Koren, Jakupovic, Sagbo, Quinn.
SOUTHAMPTON: Boruc, Chambers, Fonte, Yoshida, Shaw, Cork, Schneiderlin, Lallana (Ward-Prowse 88), Steven Davis (Wanyama 90), Rodriguez, Lambert (Do Prado 77). Subs Not Used: Kelvin Davis, Clyne, Hooiveld, Isgrove. Booked: Shaw, Fonte, Schneiderlin. Goals: Fonte 69.
Attendance: 23,670.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
