Match ends, Nottingham Forest 0, Hull City 1.
Nottm ForestNottingham Forest0HullHull City1
A first-half strike from Abel Hernandez gave Hull City victory at Nottingham Forest to keep them in fifth place.
Both sides had gone close with long range efforts before the visitors were awarded a penalty as Shaun Maloney went down under a challenge from Matt Mills.
Hernandez saw a weak spot-kick kept out by Dorus De Vries but soon made amends, tapping in following a quick corner.
In an ill-tempered finale Mills was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Chuba Akpom.
It was a third successive home defeat for Forest but they enjoyed plenty of possession in an entertaining opening, Nelson Oliveira having a 25-yard effort tipped around the post by Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor at full stretch.
Mohamed Diame rattled the bar with a left-footed attempt from a similar distance, while Chris O'Grady spurned a fine chance for Forest when he elected to go alone with Ryan Mendes better placed and his shot was saved by McGregor.
Referee Nigel Miller adjudged that Mills had clipped Maloney when the striker nipped in on the blind side but the resulting penalty was neither well struck or placed.
However Maloney's quick thinking caught Forest napping and the set piece was flicked on for Hernandez to slide in at the far post, De Vries booked for his protestations that the corner had been unfairly taken.
Oliveira tested McGregor in a scrappier second half, while De Vries needed a smart save at his near post to deny former Forest favourite Michael Dawson and Mendes fizzed a shot across the face of goal for the home side.
A scuffle involving a group of players resulted in yellow cards for Eric Lichaj and Sam Clucas before Mills was dismissed for a crude lunging challenge as Hull recorded a fourth successive league victory at the City Ground, which left them one of four sides in the play-off places on 18 points.
Forest boss Dougie Freedman:
"It was an outstanding performance, we were excellent. We played at a really high tempo. We created a lot of opportunities and we felt we deserved more.
"We were disappointed with the goal, it was a bad goal to give away, with Maloney taking a quick corner to catch us out, the first goal was so, so crucial. That has never been as important in football as it is now. It changed the whole course of the game."
(On the red card for Mills)"I have not seen a replay of it, but it looked reckless at the time. I have no complaints about the referee."
Hull manager Steve Bruce told BBC Radio Humberside:
"All of a sudden we're unbeaten in five and showing a bit of resilience which for me, away from home, was missing.
"Certainly today, we can improve - I thought we gave the ball away too cheaply especially in the first half
"I'm always demanding better I suppose. We give the ball away in bad areas too often for me and that clouded all the good stuff what we had."
Line-ups
Nottm Forest
Formation 4-3-3
- 1de VriesBooked at 42mins
- 2LichajBooked at 85mins
- 5MillsBooked at 87mins
- 25Hobbs
- 31Pinillos
- 10Lansbury
- 4MancienneSubstituted forEbecilioat 56'minutesSubstituted forWardat 77'minutes
- 24Vaughan
- 17Oliveira
- 29O'Grady
- 15Mendes da GraçaSubstituted forWalkerat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 13Fox
- 14Ebecilio
- 19Ward
- 20Williams
- 26Evtimov
- 27Burke
- 34Walker
Hull
Formation 4-3-3
- 1McGregor
- 27El Mohamady
- 21DawsonBooked at 42mins
- 6DaviesBooked at 33mins
- 2Odubajo
- 14Livermore
- 8HuddlestoneSubstituted forMeylerat 79'minutes
- 17DiaméSubstituted forAlukoat 69'minutes
- 11ClucasBooked at 85mins
- 9HernándezSubstituted forAkpomat 74'minutes
- 15Maloney
Substitutes
- 4Bruce
- 7Meyler
- 12Maguire
- 16Jakupovic
- 19Akpom
- 24Aluko
- 26Robertson
- Referee:
- Nigel Miller
- Attendance:
- 20,985
Match Stats
Home TeamNottm ForestAway TeamHull
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home28
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away8
- Corners
- Home9
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Nottingham Forest 0, Hull City 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Nélson Oliveira (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Jamie Ward.
Post update
Attempt missed. Henri Lansbury (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jamie Ward (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Nélson Oliveira.
Post update
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Moses Odubajo.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jamie Ward (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Curtis Davies.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tyler Walker (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked. Assisted by Daniel Pinillos with a cross.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Chuba Akpom (Hull City) because of an injury.
Dismissal
Matt Mills (Nottingham Forest) is shown the red card for violent conduct.
Post update
Chuba Akpom (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Matt Mills (Nottingham Forest).
Post update
Attempt missed. Matt Mills (Nottingham Forest) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Henri Lansbury with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Booking
Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Sam Clucas (Hull City) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Delay in match David Meyler (Hull City) because of an injury.
Post update
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Moses Odubajo.
