Match ends, Hull City 2, Huddersfield Town 0.
HullHull City2HuddersfieldHuddersfield Town0
Hull City's return to the Championship following relegation began with a win over a spirited Huddersfield Town.
Steve Bruce's Tigers took until the end of the first half to finally break Town down and only led when Sam Clucas fired in a shot on the rebound.
On-loan Arsenal striker Chuka Akpom ended any Huddersfield resistance, thumping in from close range.
The Terriers played some neat football but were unable to create any clear chances to trouble the home side.
This victory was Hull's fifth win in six against Huddersfield and Town's fourth consecutive opening-day defeat.
While owner Assem Allam has continued to support Bruce in the transfer market, the goalscoring pair of Clucas and Akpom among their summer arrivals, his long-term future is in doubt after the bid to change the club's name to Hull Tigers was thrown out by the FA for a second time.
BBC Sport has learned that he will not attend any Tigers games this season.
On the field, they were gifted the opener when Jonathan Hogg's pass was cut out in the Terriers' half.
When Clucas was played in at the back post, his shot was initially saved by Alex Smithies but the winger turned in at the second attempt.
It was Hull's first league goal in 344 minutes and came during a half low on chances, while Jason Davidson could only flash a rare opportunity over for the visitors.
Akpom's shot after the break was a rare bright spot in a fairly low-key second half and Nakhi Wells's late half-chance proved Huddersfield's best of the second period.
Hull manager Steve Bruce on Sam Clucas: "It just goes to show if you have got the attitude never give up. There are some great success stories in things like that."
On owner Assem Allam's absence: "Towards the end of the season there were some mindless idiots throwing stones at their house. It happened more than once over the summer."
Huddersfield manager Chris Powell: "My players really played well today at a place where not many teams will take points.
"We were playing a team who have aspirations for the top two, let alone the top six. It was crucial moments today (when the goals came). The response in the second half was positive."
Line-ups
Hull
Formation 4-4-2
- 1McGregor
- 5TaylorSubstituted forAlukoat 65'minutes
- 21Dawson
- 6Davies
- 26Robertson
- 27El Mohamady
- 20HaydenBooked at 30mins
- 8Huddlestone
- 11Clucas
- 19AkpomSubstituted forLuerat 83'minutes
- 18JelavicSubstituted forMeylerat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Meyler
- 12Maguire
- 16Jakupovic
- 24Aluko
- 32Luer
- 33Dixon
- 34Jahraldo-Martin
Huddersfield
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Smithies
- 14Cranie
- 5HudsonBooked at 68mins
- 33Lynch
- 2SmithBooked at 28minsSubstituted forMillerat 65'minutes
- 6HoggSubstituted forHammillat 80'minutes
- 4WhiteheadSubstituted forDempseyat 83'minutes
- 8Butterfield
- 3Davidson
- 21Wells
- 17BunnBooked at 86mins
Substitutes
- 11Miller
- 13Murphy
- 15M Wallace
- 20Hiwula-Mayifuila
- 22Dempsey
- 25Hammill
- 32Tronstad
- Referee:
- Keith Hill
- Attendance:
- 19,361
Match Stats
Home TeamHullAway TeamHuddersfield
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away1
- Corners
- Home8
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away18
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Hull City 2, Huddersfield Town 0.
Post update
Foul by Jason Davidson (Huddersfield Town).
Post update
Sone Aluko (Hull City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Nahki Wells (Huddersfield Town) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Adam Hammill.
Post update
Foul by Kyle Dempsey (Huddersfield Town).
Post update
David Meyler (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by Michael Dawson.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ishmael Miller (Huddersfield Town) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nahki Wells with a through ball.
Post update
Corner, Hull City. Conceded by Alex Smithies.
Post update
Attempt saved. Sam Clucas (Hull City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Ahmed Elmohamady with a cross.
Post update
Foul by Mark Hudson (Huddersfield Town).
Post update
Greg Luer (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Joel Lynch (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Greg Luer (Hull City).
Post update
Harry Bunn (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by David Meyler (Hull City).
Post update
Corner, Hull City. Conceded by Mark Hudson.
Post update
Corner, Hull City. Conceded by Jason Davidson.
Booking
Harry Bunn (Huddersfield Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
