Southampton 2 Hull City 0: Hull’s self-inficted wounds could reap ultimate pain of relegation

In slipping to a defeat that means seven games on the road since the turn of the year have yielded a paltry two points, Yorkshire’s sole Premier League representative once again were their own worst enemies.

An inability to capitalise when on top has characterised much of Hull’s season, as has a tendency to commit footballing suicide at the back.

Both failings were again on display at Southampton, as several promising opportunities were spurned by the Tigers’ attack before Alex Bruce was guilty of committing a reckless – and needless – challenge that gifted the hosts the lead from the penalty spot.

With Ronald Koeman’s side having won 15 of the 16 games in which they had gone in front this term, such a self-inflicted wound was always going to be hard to overcome.

So it proved, as a late strike by Graziano Pelle sealed a 16th defeat in 32 league outings this term that was made more damaging by wins elsewhere for Aston Villa and Leicester City.

No wonder manager Steve Bruce cut such a frustrated figure at the final whistle.

“It has been a familiar story of our season so far,” said the Tigers chief. “We got ourselves in some wonderful positions but we have to score.

“Unfortunately – and this is a recurring theme – we are not scoring enough. It was a penalty, too. A poor challenge from Alex, which at 30 years old he will be disappointed about. For me, that changed the game.”

On the scrap for survival, Bruce added: “We have had a wonderful three years. But I always had something in my water thinking this would be the most difficult challenge.

“All of a sudden, there was an expectation and we haven’t been able to live up to that. But I still hope we have enough to keep us out of trouble.

“We have won six games and drawn 10. I have always said that we probably have to win 10. That might be out of our reach so we hope eight or nine might be enough.”

Hull’s tendency to make life hard for themselves had seen Swansea City and Chelsea gifted two-goal leads in the last two games courtesy of errors that would shame a schoolboy.

Against Southampton, Hull were at it again inside 21 seconds courtesy of a woeful attempted back pass from Jake Livermore.

In trying to roll the ball lazily back to Steve Harper, all the midfielder could do was find Shane Long.

The former Hull striker was left with a clear run on goal but could only contrive to run the ball behind for a goalkick while trying to get round the goalkeeper.

It was a let-off for the visitors, who had ditched their usual three-man defence to go 4-4-1-1 in an attempt to add more attacking thrust to their play.

Once Livermore’s early blunder was out of the way, Bruce’s tactical switch did just that with Sone Aluko, in particular, having the sort of first half that gives Premier League defenders nightmares. His trickery and ability to glide past an opponent saw Hull, who had Tom Huddlestone back dictating play in the centre of midfield, seize the initiative.

First, Aluko, on collecting a neat pass from Stephen Quinn, showed great skill to create an opening that deserved a better finish than his screwed shot wide.

The Hull striker then brought a fine save from Kelvin Davis after being found by Livermore before Huddlestone’s corner caused such panic in the home ranks that Dame N’Doye was able to bring the ball down and then fire wide.

All these spurned chances came in the opening nine minutes, underlining how positively – the Livermore back pass apart – Hull had started the game.

It remained the case for the rest of those opening 45 minutes as Quinn volleyed straight at Davis and N’Doye came within a whisker of releasing Aluko.

Nine minutes into the second half, the Tigers had yet another great opportunity as Livermore brought a fine save from Davis.

Then, though, came the turning point as Bruce, despite Long having taken a touch so heavy that the ball was about to run out of play, dived in recklessly on his former team-mate.

Long went down, referee Kevin Friend rightly pointed to the spot and James Ward-Prowse did the rest from 12 yards.

Considering how Hull had been on top up until that point, falling behind came as a shattering blow.

Southampton still needed Ryan Bertrand to clear James Chester’s header off the line on the hour before the hosts were left further relieved to see Paul McShane’s cross flash agonisingly past N’Doye’s outstretched leg.

The two near misses suggested Hull could still rescue some reward but then, with nine minutes remaining, a neat passing move down Hull’s left ended with Pelle firing in after being set up by Morgan Schneiderlin.

Southampton: Davis; Alderweireld, Fonte, Yoshida, Bertrand; Wanyama (Ward-Prowse 46), Schneiderlin, S. Davis, Mané (Tadic 61); Long (Elia 74), Pellè. Unused substitutes: Gazzaniga, Clyne, Reed, Targett.

Hull City: McGregor; Chester (Diame 64), Bruce, Dawson, McShane; Elmohamady, Huddlestone (Sagbo 74), Livermore, Quinn; Aluko (Hernandez 84); N’Doye. Unused substitutes: McGregor, Rosenior, Brady, Robertson.