Hull City 2-0 United: First PL win over Man U
Opening-day upset On the opening day of the Premier League season, Hull City beat Manchester United 2-0 at the MKM Stadium. The result was Hull’s first Premier League victory over the Red Devils, a win that came from two set-piece goals and a tactical masterclass by head coach Sergej Jakirovic.
Set-piece success Regan Slater was the architect of both goals. In the 17th minute a corner from Slater was tipped by Senne Lammens, then flicked on by John Egan and finally finished by Semi Ajayi, who was left unmarked in the box. The second strike came in the 38th minute when Slater whipped in a free-kick that was met by Nobel Mendy, who stole the ball in front of Luke Shaw and powered a header past goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis.
Hull’s tactics Jakirovic switched to a back-five to counter Shaw’s higher positioning and to punish United’s wide free-kick delivery. The plan worked, as Hull’s midfield dominated the centre of the park and their wing-backs were used to stretch United’s defence. Eight of Hull’s eleven were from the Championship play-off final, including Joe Cole, and the new signings Mendy and Tzolakis were integral to the win.
United’s struggles United’s new midfield partnership of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos failed to click, and both were replaced in the second half by Matt Crooks and Slater. The team was passive and vulnerable on the ball, with Mbeumo’s best two attempts saved by Tzolakis. New striker Matheus Cunha started at centre-forward but lacked any punch, while Patrick Dorgu was replaced by Marcus Rashford, who wore the number nine shirt for his first competitive game since December 2024.
Managerial and fan reaction Owner Acun Ilicali felt vindicated after standing up for his side, and Hull fans mocked pundit Joe Cole for writing them off. The matchday announcer even told United supporters that two trains back to Manchester had been cancelled, adding to the humiliation. United’s manager Michael Carrick said it was only one game, but the pressure will be on if they lose to Ipswich Town at Old Trafford next weekend.
Future implications The result puts United’s title hopes into question, especially as their new striker has not yet arrived and Baleba’s arrival is delayed. Hull’s confidence will be high as they prepare for the rest of the season, while United must address the lack of cohesion in midfield and the defensive gaps exposed by Hull’s set-piece proficiency.
