Festive changes promised by Hull City boss Nigel Adkins

MAIN MAN: Cardiff City's Sol Bamba celebrates his winning goal against Hull City. Picture: Simon Galloway/PA

As they bid to pull away from the wrong end of the table, the Tigers played their part in an entertaining contest and could ahve taken the lead on more than one occasion.

Hull had the first real opportunity to break the deadlock after Bluebirds goalkeeper Neil Etheridge spilled a Kamil Grosicki free-kick, but Jon Toral failed to capitalise with a weak effort.

Nouha Dicko then snuck in behind the Cardiff defence and poked an effort against the post and the hosts survived.

Hull City's manager Nigel Adkins Picture: Simon Galloway/PA

Lee Tomlin looked like he was going to be the man to find the creative spark when he stung the hands of Allan McGregor.

But the deadlock was finally broken 12 minutes into the second period thanks to Cardiff captain Bamba, who got his head to Anthony Pilkington’s flick-on after Tomlin’s inch perfect cross.

And they never looked back to close the gap to four points on Wolves at the top of the table.

“They’re flying high an they’re difficult to play against,” said Adkins afterwards. “But we started well, and for a club who are down the bottom we got on the front foot and caused them problems.

Cardiff City's Sol Bamba (right) and Hull City's Nouha Dicko battle for the ball. Picture: Simon Galloway/PA

“They started dominating down the right-hand side, I thought (Nathaniel) Mendez Laing was a massive threat for them, it was like a war of attrition.

“I don’t think it was a free-kick leading up to their goal and Bamba was a fraction offside for their goal.

“You need those decisions to go your way but it didn’t today. I couldn’t ask for more than what the players gave me today.

“Sometimes you get the decisions and sometimes you don’t. Many teams have been rolled over here this season, but we competed which is the important message. On Wednesday we only had 17 players available, we’re going to have to make a lot of changes over the festive period and then hopefully it settles down.”

Adkins’s opposite number Neil Warnock was full of praise for match-winner Bamba.

“He was a colossus and I wouldn’t swap him for anyone – his presence epitomises Cardiff City and that’s why fans love him.”

Cardiff City: Etheridge, Peltier (Paterson 82), Ecuele Manga, Bamba, Bennett, Tomlin (Halford 83), Ralls, Damour, Mendez-Laing, Pilkington (Bogle 68), Hoilett. Unused substitutes: Feeney, Connolly, Murphy, Healey.

Hull City: McGregor, Tomori, Dawson, Mazuch, Aina, Hector, Larsson, Toral (Bowen 64), Irvine, Grosicki, Dicko (Diomande 67). Unused substitutes: Marshall, Luer, Clark, Olley, Clackstone.

Referee: Scott Duncan (Tyne & Wear).