Hull City 0-1 Derby County: FLW report as late Phillips header decides crucial relegation showdown | OneFootball

FLW reports from the MKM Stadium for this huge relegation six-pointer.

Hull City's survival prospects suffered a damning blow at the MKM Stadium as Nathaniel Phillips' 84th minute header saw Derby County record back-to-back away victories in a crucial relegation six-pointer.

The Liverpool loanee rose highest from a Craig Forsyth cross as John Eustace's side backed up their impressive victory against West Bromwich Albion five days ago, climbing above their hosts in the process.

Hull created an array of chances but were left to rue those that were missed, as their dismal record in HU3 was summed up throughout the 90 minutes, as they drop below the Rams heading into the final day.

Hull City 0-1 Derby County

The Tigers looked to pick up where they left off on Easter Monday, with Nordin Amrabat seeing an effort deflect behind for a corner inside the opening minute, with the subsequent set-piece coming to nothing.

Selles' side dominated the early possession and looked to make it count after nine minutes as Regan Slater was presented with a shooting opportunity after another corner was half-cleared by the visitors. However, after evading the challenge of Ebou Adams, his shot was comfortably gathered by Josh Vickers, before injury ended the midfielder's involvement just five minutes later.

Derby's first half-chance of the game came on 18 minutes as a deflected Liam Thompson pass caused Ivor Pandur to rush out of his net amid pressure from Jerry Yates.

Gustavo Puerta looked to bend a free-kick past Vickers after 26 minutes, but the Colombian's effort was short of the power required to beat the keeper from 20 yards out. Marcus Harness then spotted a clever run from Wilson and with the wing-back bearing down on goal, a strong tackle from Sean McLoughlin prevented any danger from a Hull perspective.

Harrison Armstrong would then see a half-volley turned behind by Kyle Joseph after neat link-up play between Harness and the advanced Matt Clarke after two Rams corners were somewhat dealt with. The 18-year-old midfielder would then be booked for simulation by Stephen Martin despite strong appeals for a penalty after the Everton loanee fell under pressure.

In the second of four added minutes at the end of the first period, the experienced John Egan looked to open his account for Hull in fine fashion with a curling strike that dipped the wrong side of Vickers' crossbar, with the final action of the half coming through a City corner which the Irishman couldn't connect with to open the scoring.

The hosts started the second 45 in similar fashion as Joe Gelhardt found Lewie Coyle in space, with the full-back's deep cross proving just too high for the onrushing McLoughlin to power a header towards goal. Puerta would then try his luck with a low drive that drifted just wide of Vickers' right-hand post.

Eustace's men saw their first meaningful attack of the half come on 54 minutes as Pandur was on hand to palm away a curling Wilson effort after the 25-year-old spun McLoughlin before captain Ebou Adams was unable to test the Croatian with a follow-up strike from 15 yards out.

Gelhardt then went in search of his sixth goal of a successful loan stint from Leeds United. However, Monday's two-goal hero could only drag a speculative effort wide of the mark. Amrabat then looked to play Abu Kamara through for his second goal in three home games before penalty appeals for a foul from Nathanial Phillips were also dismissed by the referee.

Adams then blazed another fine Derby chance over the bar on the hour mark as Forsyth's deep free-kick was only dealt with temporarily by the Hull rearguard.

With 20 minutes into the half gone, Gelhardt then came close after it looked like a Tigers attack had fizzled out as the 22-year-old eventually had an effort on the turn deflected wide by Phillips as Vickers was left slightly worried, with Kamara unable to convert a powerful strike from the following corner.

Gelhardt was involved once more on 70 minutes as Armstrong misjudged the bounce of Alfie Jones' through ball, although he could only find the side-netting from a narrow angle.

A loose pass from Adams was then intercepted by Amrabat, who fed Gelhardt after the Moroccan's chance to shoot was closed down by Sondre Langas, with no one in Black and Amber on hand smash home the forward's teasing ball across the face of goal.

Wilson had been Derby's most potent threat throughout the game, and nerves were certainly jangling among the home crowd when he fired a powerful effort inches over the bar with 12 minutes remaining.

However, Selles' men were left to rue a collection of missed chances as Phillips rose highest in a crowded penalty area, with his powerful header from a pinpoint Forsyth cross directed perfectly past Pandur and into the top right-hand corner, sending those of a Derby persuasion into ecstacy.

Hull looked to muster up a late response, with substitute Alfie Jones firing high and wide two minutes from time, before a Gelhardt cross two minutes into added time evaded all inside the box, before the full-time whistle was met with a complete contrast of emotions between the two sets of supporters as Derby climb above Hull, Luton Town and Preston North End and into 19th.

Meanwhile, City are now staring a second stint in League One within five seasons in the face, and they must hope results fall in their favour as they face a trick trip to Portsmouth next weekend.

FT: Hull City 0-1 Derby County

Player Ratings

Hull City

Ivor Pandur - 6.5

Lewie Coyle - 7

John Egan - 6.5 (Jones 60" - 6)

Charlie Hughes - 6.5

Sean McLoughlin - 7

Gustavo Puerta - 6.5

Regan Slater - 6 (Alzate 14" - 6.5)

Abu Kamara - 6.5 (Pedro 88" - N/A)

Joe Gelhardt - 6.5

Nordin Amrabat - 7 (Burstow 88" - N/A)

Kyle Joseph - 6 (Crooks 88" - N/A)

Unused Subs: Thimothee Lo-Tutala, Cody Drameh, Lincoln, Kasey Palmer

Derby County

Josh Vickers - 7.5

Sondre Langas - 7

Nathaniel Phillips - 8

Matt Clarke - 7.5

Kane Wilson - 7

Liam Thompson - 6.5 (Mendez-Laing 68" - 6)

Harrison Armstrong - 7

Ebou Adams - 6.5

Craig Forsyth - 7.5

Jerry Yates - 6.5 (Barkhuizen 91" - N/A)

Marcus Harness - 6 (Jackson 80" - 6)

Unused Subs: Rohan Luthra, Erik Pieters, Kenzo Goudmijn, Corey Blackett-Taylor, Ben Osborn, Kemar Roofe

Hull City vs Derby County Attendance

The attendance at the MKM Stadium this afternoon was 24,451.

This included a sold-out away end of approximately 2,200 supporters from the East Midlands.

Ruben Selles reacts as Hull City suffer huge blow against Derby County

After suffering a late defeat in such a season-defining encounter, the Spaniard's initial reflection began; "I am disappointed. Very disappointed with the result today.

"I think we did a lot of things that we wanted to do, but we didn't find the situation in the final third to score a goa, and then in one action, one set-piece, we lost it.

"It's difficult to take, because I think this team has done enough. But, we have no other way to go other than to analyse, accept it and go into the fact that if we win the final game of the season, we will be where we want to be," he added.

When asked if the defeat summed up City's season in a nutshell, Selles stated: "As you say, the game is impacted by losing two players through injury. That is part of our season also.

"It would be a good way to describe it, but it's difficult to take."

Selles wasn't surprised by how the opposition set up in order to claim three points either.

"I expected a different game, they have been playing in different ways. One of the scenarios we managed was the low-block. We knew we didn't need to give any transitions in the low-block and then keep our wide points.

"I think we managed the game. We needed to get a little bit more into the final third. As I say, the first person responsible for that is me as I need to put the players in a better position to finish those actions.

"But, really, I think we controlled the game," he explained.

Selles then delivered his stance ahead of what is a crucial trip to Fratton Park in seven days' time.

"During today, it's very important that everyone keeps calm," he said. "Due to the circumstances, we don't need to overdo things. I know football is about results and today is a 1-0 defeat, but it doesn't take away that we did some proper (good) things during the season together.

"We said it was now-or-never to get back-to-back victories, now it's now or never if we want to stay up, and we want to do it. Let's prepare the week and go for it with everything that we have, and I will demand everything," he concluded.

John Eustace reacts as Derby County record crucial victory at MKM Stadium

Eustace's first thoughts post-match related to the pride he feels in his players after reacting to the Good Friday defeat against Luton Town with successive wins.

"I'm very proud of the effort of the group," he began. "I thought the boys were outstanding today, which they have been since I came to the football club, and I'm really pleased with the three points."

When asked about the most pleasing aspect of Derby's performance, he said; "I think out of possession we were really good, we controlled the game without the ball.

"I felt we limited a very good footballing team to next-to-nothing. We defended very well, gave them a few half-chances by being sloppy defensively and not looking after the ball properly.

"Overall, I always felt as the game would progress, it would be more open. We made some really attacking changes with pace on the pitch and managed to get up the pitch with a great ball from Jacko (Kayden Jackson) and Mendez (Laing).

"In the final third, we've got good quality, we've got players who want to head the ball in the box, Fozzy (Forsyth's) put a beautiful ball in and Nat (Phillips) has put the ball in the net," he explained.

Eustace was then quizzed about his emotions after such a crucial moment in an evenly-contested clash.

"It was a good feeling," he stated. "I've been more emotional already this season. "There's been other games where we've needed results off the back of defeats and today, I was very happy with the performance.

"Of course, you're emotional whenever you concede or score. But, full credit to the players today, the players have handled the big occasion well today, and now they've got to do it again next week (vs Stoke)," the Rams boss concluded.

Here is how the bottom of the Championship looks heading into next weekend's crucial matches; Derby County vs Stoke City, Bristol City vs Preston North End, Portsmouth vs Hull City and West Brom vs Luton Town.