Newcastle United 2 Hull City 3: Aluko nets Tigers winner

A STUNNING 76TH-MINUTE winner from Sone Aluko secured a first Premier League away win of the campaign for the terrific Tigers at St James’ Park - their first on the road in the top-flight in 27 games.
Huill's  Sone Aluko.Huill's  Sone Aluko.
Huill's Sone Aluko.

It was just reward for the Tigers, who hit back twice after going behind, with the afternoon proving particularly memorable for boyhood Newcastle fan and former Sunderland boss Steve Bruce, with memories of his last visit to Newcastle, when his Black Cats side were hammered 5-1 on Halloween 2010, firmly vanquished.

Hull’s previous away win in the big time came at Fulham way back in March 2009, with their long wait ended in outstanding fashion.

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The match-winning moment arrived when Aluko gained reward for his impressive start to the top-flight season with a picture-book winner, steering home effortlessly on the volley following a cross from sub George Boyd.

It secured Hull’s third win on the spin at St James’ Park, which is rapidly becoming a lucky venue for them.

Earlier, goals from Robbie Brady and Ahmed Elmohamady had cancelled out a double from Loic Remy.

It was Remy, who had the hosts’ best chance to claim something from a testing afternoon, but he inexplicably fired the ball wide in stoppage time from close range with it looked easier to score - with a hat-trick seemingly a formality.

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Hull, after a shaky start, settled somewhat and could consider themselves unfortunate to be trailing at the interval.

But on the early evidence, it looked like being a long afternoon for the Tigers, especially when Remy got his afternoon rolling with with a tenth-minute opener.

The striker, famously the only player brought in by the Tynesiders in a quiet summer window, much to the angst of the Geordie nation, finished neatly with his head after Papiss Cisse’s scuffed volley across goal fell invitingly into his path - after Elmohamady misjudged Moussa Sissoko’s cross.

The Frenchman, a season-long loan from QPR, nipped in front of James Chester to tuck the ball for his first goal in United colours.

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Seeking to claim a hat-trick of top-flight wins for the first time since 2011-12, it was the perfect tonic for Alan Pardew’s men, watched by director of football Joe Kinnear, somewhat of a hate figure of Tyneside following his controversial return to the club.

Slowly, but surely, City found their feet and started to pose a semblance of threat at the other end, with Robbie Brady and Sone Aluko in particular starting to ask questions.

The chance they craved arrived in the 25th minute with a sublime cross from Brady picking out boyhood Newcastle fan Danny Graham, whose header was brilliantly saved by Tim Krul, with the loose ball cleared.

But the respite proved to be temporary, with the Tigers soon drawing level, from a familiar source.

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Good work from Stephen Quinn, in for the injured Robbie Koren and Aluko, set up the overlapping Brady, in an ocean of space on the left.

The Irishman kept his composure to fire home low under the body of Krul, for his third goal of an excellent campaign thus far.

Hull visibly grew in confident and went onto enjoy an assertive spell, causing a fair bit of restlessness in the home crowd.

The next chance fell the way of the visitors, with Gateshead lad Graham beating the offside trap following a fine defence-splitting pass from Tom Huddlestone, but his control let him down and Magpies captain Fabricio Coloccini saved the day with a last-ditch challenge.

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Then out of nothing, the hosts forged a breakthrough at just the right time a minute before the break in fortuitious fashion.

Yohan Cabaye’s speculative shot rebounded off the leg of Chester into the path of Remy, who clinically steered the ball low past Allan McGregor with a precision finish.

The goal was cruel on the Tigers, but just two minutes after the break, Bruce’s troops were on terms, with the United back four not exactly covering themselves in glory for a second time.

A dangerous free-kick from the excellent Brady was met with a deft header from former Sunderland man Ahmed Elmohamady, whose effort went in off the post with keeper Krul a bystander.

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It was the perfect start to the second period to the Tigers, who were entitled to believe they could get further reward attacking the old Gallowgate end.

With every passing minute, home fans frustration grew and despite one or two promising situations for the Magpies, the Tigers rareguard held firm.

Aluko then saw his name in lights with a cracking volley and try and they might, Newcastle couldn’t find their way back, with their best moment fluffed in added-on time by Remy.

Newcastle United: Krul; Debuchy (Tiote 85), Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon; Anita, Sissoko, Cabaye (Gouffran 62); Ben Arfa, Cisse (Marveaux 73), Remy. Substitutes not used: Elliot, Williamson, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett.

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Hull City: McGregor, Elmohamady, Chester, Davies, Rosenior; Quinn (Boyd 64), Huddlestone, Livermore, Brady (Meyler 73); Aluko, Graham (Sagbo 84). Substitutes not used: Harper, Faye, Proschwitz.

Referee: M Atkinson (West Yorkshire).

Attendance: 51,523.