Hull celebrate after Kasey Palmer's penalty equaliser at the bet365 StadiumRex Features

Kasey Palmer's equaliser turned the game - the first of three goals in 16 minutes

Ged Scott at the bet365 Stadium
BBC Sport England

Hull City produced an astonishing second-half turnaround as they ruined Stoke City boss Narcis Pelach's first game in charge by earning a first win at the seventh attempt for Tigers boss Tim Walter.

It looked like Stoke were on course for a comfortable victory when they led 1-0 at the break thanks to Ben Wilmot's 30th-minute header.

But Kasey Palmer nodded in a 63rd-minute equaliser from the rebound - after his penalty had been saved by Viktor Johanssson - and it proved to be the first of three Tigers goals in 16 minutes.

Substitute Regan Slater cashed in on a Wilmot error to crash home from 18 yards on 77 minutes - and, just two minutes later, they got another.

Cutting from the left, Palmer managed only a weak effort but it deflected off Wilmot's calf and nutmegged Stoke goalkeeper Johansson, as it went through his legs and crept over the line.

Stoke had chances before they scored. Bae Jun-Ho fluffed a good chance inside the first minute, while the lively Liverpool loan man Lewis Koumas was just off target with a 20-yard shot.

Hull's only serious effort was a Palmer free-kick curled high and wide before Stoke stole in front on the half hour.

Million Manhoef darted forward and fired in a low right-foot shot only to be denied by Hull keeper Ivor Pandur. But there was no respite from the resulting corner.

Jun-Ho swung in a pinpoint delivery from the left corner flag - and Wilmot ran across half the static Hull defenders to power home a near-post header.

Ben Wilmot arrives at the near post to steer home a powerful header from Bae Junho Rex Features

Ben Wilmot's previous Stoke goal was a year ago - to the day

Stoke looked so comfortable for so long, it seemed only a matter of time before a second goal came.

Instead, they were stung by a bolt from the blue when Eric Bocat reacted to a loose ball by getting in an unnecessary tangle with Mohamed Belloumi in a seemingly harmless corner of the penalty area.

Belloumi went down and referee Ben Toner pointed to the spot.

Johansson dived to his right to save Palmer's penalty, but the former Coventry man was first to react to the rebound and headed in.

If Stoke felt aggrieved about Hull getting back on level terms, it was about to get a whole lot worse for the hosts.

Wilmot’s slip freed the Tigers to attack and some fine trickery from Slater gave him an opening to fire his side in front.

The turnaround was then complete when Wilmot’s own goal trickled through Johansson’s legs and just over the white line to earn Hull their first win since 24 April, when they won, also in the Midlands, at Coventry.

Who’s next?

Following their second straight defeat, Stoke go to Middlesbrough next Saturday for the second time in just over a month, having won 5-0 there in the EFL Cup in August.

Hull return home to host bottom club Cardiff City, in another of the Saturday afternoon kick-offs.

Stoke City boss Narcis Pelach told BBC Sport:

"I was happy with the first half hour. We scored a nice goal from a set play.

"But we have to make the most of our chances and then we made mistakes.

"The first goal should not have been allowed. It was offside before the penalty was given. The second goal was our mistake.

"But I did not think it was that bad. Our heads went down after the third goal went in."

Hull City boss Tim Walter told BBC Sport:

"After conceding the goal, we stayed bright and showed a lot of courage and found better solutions.

"We have to make the most of the chances we created. It’s the hardest thing in football to do. Such a small goal on such a big pitch.

"I was actually happy with how we played last week. Now we’ve had more time together and that has helped a lot.

"It has helped the feeling in the group but we have always believed in ourselves. It’s all about mentality – and having the confidence."

Related topics