Hull City slumped to a 2-0 defeat against Leeds United in the Sky Bet Championship last night, with Grant McCann’s side undone by two second-half goals.

A trip to Elland Road is never easy and with Leeds entering the fixture on the back of a six-match winning streak, the Tigers were always going to be up against it.

However, they carried a threat throughout, with a Jordy de Wijs own-goal and rebounded Ezgjan Alioski effort eventually doing the damage in the final 20 minutes of the game.

The result has left Hull five points adrift of the play-offs and in 13th place, with McCann’s side now heading into a crucial festive period needing to make up ground if the top-six is to be a realistic ambition.

Here, we break down what we learnt about the Tigers last night at Elland Road…

Hull’s threat is greater than just Jarrod Bowen

There’s no denying who Hull’s key man is and who Leeds tried to swamp last night.

Bowen has 14 goals in 21 Championship appearances, with his threat from the right something that had Elland Road worried last night.

However, he’s well supported by his teammates, with Kamil Grosicki carrying a similar threat on the left and Tom Eaves a nuisance through the middle.

Leeds managed to stifle that attacking trio and the willing running of Jackson Irvine, but this Hull performance showed that they are beyond a one-man band.

Defensive foundations can’t be underestimated

 

Hull have conceded 29 goals so far this season, which sits somewhere amongst the average in the Championship as we approach the halfway stage.

However, in Reece Burke and Jordy de Wijs, McCann has a centre-back pairing that offer some serious steel to allow Hull’s forward players to thrive.

Last night, they were up against Patrick Bamford and a pressing midfield unit, but they stood firm and held Leeds for 73 minutes.

De Wijs scored an unfortunate own-goal, but he and his defensive partner received praise.

“I thought the two of them were outstanding,” McCann stated. “They were probably playing against one of the best forwards in the league in Bamford, and they didn’t really give him much change.”

False league position?

 

The saying goes that the table never lies, and Hull’s inconsistency in the Championship matches their 13th placed standing.

However, the squad McCann has and the results they have picked up had Bielsa stating post-match that this was a victory against an ‘important side’.

Additionally, McCann revealed that Bielsa had stated to him personally how good Hull were, joining Slaven Bilic (West Brom boss) with that praise.

So, should Hull be higher in the table?