Derby County came short in an end-to-end, spirited Sky Bet Championship contest against Hull City that ended 4-2 to the hosts on Tuesday night.

Hull got ahead after nine minutes at the MKM Stadium, with a corner ball in a crowded box resulting in an own goal by Callum Elder. But the Rams were soon back into it with a Craig Forsyth goal from close range in the 18th minute.

In the space of five minutes, both teams had scored once more before the end of the half; Oli McBurnie put the Tigers back into the lead in the 39th minute, before Sam Szmodics opened his Derby account with a strike in the 42nd.

After a hotly contested second period, where both sides came near, John Egan put the hosts in front once again in the 75th minute, and a Lewis Koumas strike five minutes from time finally put the game to bed.

Key Moments

Patrick Agyemang went into the referee’s book within the first minute in what was shaping up to be a physical match-up on Humberside.

Hull had the first opportunity of the game when good hold-up play from striker McBurnie on the right fed Joe Gelhardt down the flank, and his ball into the box flew just over the crossbar.

Ryan Giles forced Josh Vickers into action in the ninth minute when the wing-back advanced down the left flank and hit towards the near post, but the Rams goalkeeper parried the ball behind for a corner.

The resulting set-piece saw Hull take the advantage as the in-swinging corner was steered in due to tussling between Charlie Hughes and Callum Elder, which saw the ball go in as an own goal off the Derby defender’s back.

Forsyth levelled for Derby after an Elder corner ball was recycled on the opposite flank by an alert Szmodics. Lewis Travis then sent a low ball into the box, which goalkeeper Ivor Pandur parried into the path of Forsyth, who converted his first league goal of the season.

Tenacious work from Agyemang nearly saw Derby get in front in the 23rd minute. The US striker chased down a high ball and beat Hughes to it on the left flank, heading and taking possession. He then dribbled into the box, cut inside and unleashed an effort which fizzed just over the bar.

A deft pass by Murkin to Szmodics in the 37th minute set up a tidy attack, which saw Travis force an excellent save from Pandur after the Rams captain unleashed a thunderous effort from 25 yards.

The following corner also went near, as Matt Clarke’s header flashed wide of the mark.

Hull regained their lead against the run of play, though, as Gelhardt intercepted the ball and found McBurnie in the box to score.

A strong response came a minute later from Derby, with Agyemang denied at point-blank range by Pandur.

The reaction did come in the 42nd minute after a prolonged pressured spell saw Clark feed Agyemang down the left to deliver a low cross that found Szmodics in space to hit the back of the net and make it 2-2.

HALF-TIME: Hull City 2-2 Derby County

Agyemang had the first clear opportunity of the first half when a Murkin long throw was nodded onto the striker, and he attempted an overhead kick, but could only send the ball onto the roof of the net.

Derby looked certain to get the advantage when half-time substitute Joe Ward played Ben Brereton Díaz down the right wing. The Chilean international got the beating of wing-back Giles and made space when he pulled up injured.

Brereton Díaz’s cross into the box found Szmodics, but, despite being in a similar situation to his earlier goal, the goalkeeper came out on top and made the save.

The game remained back and forth, with both teams surging forward with opportunities, but somehow the score remained 2-2.

Liam Millar looked to get joy down the left flank when Hull were on top, but for the defensive work of Clarke, who headed and kicked away balls into the box. While Derby continued to look a threat when going direct, with Agyemang and Brereton Díaz battling with the Tigers’ back line.

Clark was another to be denied by Pandur in the 68th minute when Szmodics unlocked the defence with a tidy through ball the see Clark one-on-one with the onrushing shot-stopper who saved.

Egan gave Hull their third of the night, and the lead back in the 75th minute when he received the ball on the turn in the box and struck low into the net.

Substitute Carlton Morris came agonisingly close to making the tie even yet again when Murkin charged down the left flank and delivered a powerful low ball into the striker to send the ball just over.

Soon after, though, Hull gained a two-goal lead when Koumas broke in behind and made it 4-2 and seal the win for the hosts.

The Teams

Hull City: Pandur (GK), Coyle (C), Giles, Hughes, Millar, McBurnie, Egan, Hadziahmetovic, Gelhardt, Joseph, Slater.

Substitutes: Phillips (GK), Lundstram, Drameh, Famewo, Crooks, Dowell, Koumas, McNair, McCarthy.

Derby County: Vickers (GK), Murkin, Forsyth, Clarke, Agyemang, Ozoh, Szmodics, Elder, Brereton Díaz, Travis (C), Clark.

Substitutes: O’Donnell (GK), Morris, Brewster, Ward, Sanderson, Fraulo, Eames, I Gordon, Allen.

Next Fixture

The Rams will head back to Pride Park Stadium on Saturday 28th February, when John Eustace’s side welcome Blackburn Rovers to DE24 (12.30pm kick-off).