Hull came from behind to earn their first victory of the season with a 3-1 win over Stoke at the Bet365 Stadium. Ben Wilmot put the hosts in front in NarcĂs Pelach’s first game in charge before three goals in 17 minutes gave Tim Walter his first win as Hull manager.
Kasey Palmer nodded in the equaliser on his first start for the visitors, following up after his penalty had been saved by Viktor Johansson, before the substitute Regan Slater and a Wilmot own goal completed the turnaround.
Walter’s men arrived in Staffordshire without a win to their name, having scored just two goals in their first five league outings. They had the lion’s share of possession in the first half but failed to create any clear-cut opportunities. Mohamed Belloumi fired over twice in the early stages, while Palmer lifted a free kick over the crossbar.
Stoke had started much the brighter side after appointing the former Norwich coach Pelach to replace Steven Schumacher, who was relieved of his duties following 11 wins in 29 league games. Bae Jun-ho fired wide when he was picked out by Million Manhoef inside the area before Lewis Koumas also flashed a shot wide within the first 10 minutes.
Manhoef drew the first save of the evening when Ivor Pandur was forced to push his left-footed effort away from danger. From the resulting corner Wilmot met Bae’s corner and crashed a header past Pandur a year to the day since his last Stoke goal against Huddersfield.
Manhoef missed a golden opportunity to double the lead before half-time after clever movement from Tom Cannon. The Leicester loanee drew a defender away for the Dutchman to have a free run at goal before he scuffed his effort into the advertising hoardings.
Hull were given the opportunity to equalise just past the hour mark when Belloumi was brought down by a clumsy challenge from Eric Bocat. Palmer’s spot kick was brilliantly saved by Johansson, who dived down to his right, but the Swede could do nothing about the follow-up as Palmer headed in his first goal since his deadline day move from Coventry.
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Wilmot then played the ball into the path of the substitute Liam Millar and the winger picked out his fellow replacement Slater to lash his effort beyond Johansson. Wilmot’s miserable second half was complete two minutes later when he diverted Palmer’s cross into his own net beyond the despairing Johansson, who was unable to prevent the ball dribbling over the line, to condemn Stoke to a fourth league defeat in five.
