Hull City's under-21s extended their unbeaten run to five games with a 3-0 Professional Development League victory over Fleetwood Town at the MKM Stadium. The win lifts the young Tigers to 14th in the table and provided a significant boost with the return of first-team defender Charlie Hughes.
Robinio Vaz scored twice, with Damari Daley and Darko Gyabi also on target in a commanding performance. Daley's strike was his fourth of the season, while Gyabi opened the scoring before Vaz sealed the points.
Hughes makes long-awaited return
The most notable aspect of the team sheet was the inclusion of Charlie Hughes, making his first competitive appearance of the season following a hernia operation. The defender, who has 70 senior appearances for the club, played the first half before being replaced at the break as a precaution.
Head coach Sergej Jakirovic provided an update on the 23-year-old's fitness. "Charlie's on the grass, individual session, some reactions after training," Jakirovic said.
His return is a timely positive for the club, with the first team having drawn three of their last five Premier League matches. The senior side sit 13th with 11 points from 10 games ahead of a home match against second-placed Brighton on 22 November. The team's recent form of three draws and two defeats in the last five league games has left them 16 points behind the league leaders. The senior side will be looking to top scorer M. Belloumi, who has three goals this season, to help improve their fortunes when they face Brighton.
How the young Tigers won
Gyabi put Hull City U21s ahead in the first half, setting the tone for a dominant display. Daley doubled the advantage after the interval with his fourth goal of the campaign.
Vaz then took centre stage, adding two more goals to complete the scoring and secure a comprehensive 3-0 win. The performance showed the depth available to Jakirovic, with the lineup also featuring experienced figures like Kieran Dowell alongside younger prospects.
The result continues an encouraging spell for the under-21s, whose form provides a contrast to the first team's recent run of results. The senior Tigers are without a win in five league outings, a sequence that includes draws with Ipswich, Brentford and Everton. The development squad's next fixture is yet to be confirmed.
First reported at wearehullcity.co.uk
Fleetwood Town's match report confirmed the 3-0 scoreline and detailed the goals. The visitors stated Hull's opener came just before half-time, with Robinio Vaz scoring after a misplaced pass from goalkeeper Oliver Bellizia. Fleetwood Town reported Hull's second was an own goal from a Town defender five minutes after the restart. Damari Daley then completed the scoring from a trialist's cross with 17 minutes remaining.
