Hull City beat fellow Premier League strugglers Swansea City 2-1 at the KCOM Stadium to avoid being cut off in the bottom three.
Both goals were bagged by Everton loanee Oumar Niasse, who came off the bench and scored almost instantly when played through by Abel Hernandez.
Niasse's second arrived son after, this time after putting his foot through the ball inside the box and getting the better of Lukasz Fabianski, with Alfie Mawson's late header proving to be just a consolation.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Hull City and Swansea City at the KCOM Stadium. Both of these sides have looked much stronger since appointing new managers at the turn of the year, but it is the visitors who have enjoyed a more prolonged bounce under Paul Clement to claw themselves five points clear of danger.
Hull chief Marco Silva's galvanising effect led to widespread praise from outsiders, though those who slated his appointment notably remained quiet, helping to turn a doomed Hull side into one showing far more fight. That said, their recent form has not been great - one point from six in winnable fixtures - and they now require maximum points this afternoon if they are to keep their survival hopes alive and well. A big day of football ahead, so let's crack on with some team news.
TEAM NEWS!
HULL CITY XI: Jakupovic; Elabdellaoui, Ranocchia, Maguire, Robertson; Huddlestone, Markovic, N'Diaye, Clucas; Grosicki; Hernandez
SWANSEA CITY XI: Fabianski; Rangel, Fernandez, Mawson, Olsson; Carroll, Fer, Cork; Routledge, Llorente, Sigurdsson
Starting with a look at the home team, Silva has made two alterations to the side that lost 3-1 to Leicester City last weekend. Omar Elabdellaoui and Abel Hernandez both come back into the side, taking over from Ahmed Elmohamady and Oumar Niasse in like-for-like changes. The inclusion of Hernandez certainly makes sense this afternoon, as he has already scored in both previous meetings with the Swans this term in league and cup.
Hernandez has not scored in any of his last seven outings, however, dating back to the crucial brace he scored against Bournemouth here early in Silva's tenure. Evandro has missed Hull's last two games with a calf injury but was expected to play some part this afternoon, though he is not included in the squad so is clearly still not fully over that recent issue. Curtis Davies and Michael Dawson are making good progress from respective hamstring and calf injuries, meanwhile, but are also overlooked today.
Kamil Grosicki is one of the January arrivals that has impressed in spells for the Tigers since coming on board, and he will likely feature just off lone striker Hernandez this afternoon. Sam Clucas, Lazar Markovic and Alfred N'Diaye are also named in the Hull midfield, while Tom Huddlestone will sit a little deeper to dictate the pace of the game - a big afternoon ahead for him in the engine room. Elsewhere, the impressive Harry Maguire and Inter Milan loanee Andrea Ranocchia occupy the centre-back berths once again.
In terms of the visitors, Clement has also made two alterations from his side's last outing - a dramatic 3-2 victory over Hull City a week ago. Both changes come down the right-hand side, as Angel Rangel - as expected - comes in for injured full-back Kyle Naughton, while tricky winger Luciano Narsingh surprisingly drops down to the bench after an impressive full debut last weekend.
Narsingh's absence means a chance for Wayne Routledge to impress out wide, with in-form duo Gylfi Sigurdsson and Fernando Llorente alongside him in what appears to be a three-pronged attack. Jordan Ayew would have been the more likely candidate to come in for Narsingh, but he is made to wait for his first start since joining and is only among the subs for this KCOM Stadium showdown. Further back, Leroy Fer, Jack Cork and Tom Carroll occupy the central midfield spots.
Llorente has three goals in his last two games, taking him into double figures for the campaign - made all the more impressive when looking at the almost perfect ratio of goals scored by left foot, right foot and his head. Sigurdsson, linked with a summer move to Everton in today's papers, has been involved in a goal in each of his last six Premier League outings - three goals scored himself and four laid on for teammates. Those two players really have been key to this recent revival for the Welsh outfit.
BENCH WATCH!
HULL CITY SUBS: Marshall, Davies, Meyler, Maloney, Diomande, Niasse, Elmohamady
SWANSEA CITY SUBS: Nordfeldt, Amat, Kingsley, Britton, Narsingh, Ayew, Borja
The big news when looking at both benches is that Curtis Davies is back in the Hull squad for the first time in six weeks or so. Also included on the Tigers' bench is former Cardiff City goalkeeper David Marshall, now very much second fiddle to Eldin Jakupovic, while Niasse and Elmohamady are also included after dropping out of the starting lineup. Swansea, meanwhile, have January recruits Ayew and Narsingh - the latter surprisingly being overlooked from the XI today.
Wayne Routledge did not feature in last weekend's dramatic win over Burnley, but the wideman is included in Swansea City's starting lineup this afternoon in one of two changes - the other seeing Angel Rangel step in for injured full-back Kyle Naughton. Home side Hull City also go with two alterations from their 3-1 reverse at the hands of Leicester City, with Abel Hernandez and Omar Elabdellaoui both earning recalls to the XI.
Hull head into this weekend's action sitting 19th in the table, currently four adrift of safety and six off fellow relegation candidates Swansea. There is a reason why these matches are billed six-pointers - victory for the Tigers today not only helps drag them closer to safety, but it also ensures their opponents do not get closer to that safety mark of 37-40 points. The pressure is very much on the Tigers to get the job done, with boss Silva admitting that a point simply will not be good enough for his men.
City appeared to turn a corner in the early weeks of Silva's tenure, winning half of the Portuguese's first eight games in charge in all competitions. That run included wins over Liverpool and Manchester United in league and cup, while also holding the Red Devils to a draw at Old Trafford not so long ago. It was a tough start to life in English football for Silva, who had to navigate fixtures with the likes of aforementioned duo Liverpool and Man United, as well as Chelsea and Arsenal away from home.
A run of more winnable fixtures then presented City with the chance to finally turn positive performances into serious points on the board, but they have so far taken one point from six in games with mid-table Burnley and fellow strugglers Leicester. The Tigers were far too cautious in the first half of their meeting against the Clarets, only really stepping things up in the second half and then being pegged back immediately after finally making the breakthrough. A second away point of the season for Burnley was a fair result.
Last weekend's loss to Leicester was simply a case of the better side prevailing on the day, meanwhile, with Hull again unable to hold on to their advantage when making the breakthrough. That puts even more pressure on today's game which, if not must-win, is very high up on the list. Silva himself said in the build-up to today's game that any hopes of avoiding the drop may well rest on the result of this match, knowing that Bournemouth are the only other side in the bottom nine in action this weekend.
Sunderland are the side currently looking as though they have little hope, though we have said that pretty much every season for the past four years and they still somehow manage to pull it off time and time again. The Black Cats have a shocking tally of 19 points from their first 27 games, while Bournemouth in 14th have 27 points and are still not yet able to breath. Victory for the Cherries against West Ham United today could well see them over the line with two months of campaign to go.
That is the case for Swansea, too, who along with Leicester and Bournemouth also have 27 points. You would back the Welsh outfit to push on and finish in mid-table if their results since the turn of the year are anything to go by, yet defeat today and all of a sudden they are desperately looking over their shoulder and potentially dragged right into the mix should those sides with a game in hand each pick up positives results. The picture will, it is fair to say, only become clearer in the closing weeks of the season.
Even victory this afternoon will not be enough to take City out of the drop zone, then, but they need to get points on the board ahead of their tricky trip to Everton next weekend. One win in six league games overall suggests that the bounce first enjoyed under Silva is now flatlining, but it is worth pointing out that they have not suffered defeat on home soil in any of their last six matches in all competitions, last doing so on Boxing Day when Manchester City visited here.
DID YOU KNOW? Only Middlesbrough have scored fewer goals that Hull City's 24 this season, while only Swansea City have shipped more than their tally of 53 at the other end of the field - a perfect blend of the wrong kind! That poor defensive run includes a league-low three clean sheets all term in the Premier League. Further problems arise from set-pieces, as they have conceded from corners free kicks and penalties on 24 occasions this term - more than any other team.
Following an impressive start to life in English football, when winning half of his eight games in charge in all competitions, Hull City boss Marco Silva has since failed to pick up the results required to guide his side to safety. Games with Burnley and Leicester City over the past fortnight presented a real chance to put some points on the board, but a home draw with the travel-sick Clarets is all they have to show for their performances.
Swansea boss Clement is still enjoying his honeymoon period in South Wales, meanwhile, having helped to more than double his side's previous points tally since coming on board. It has been a real disappointing campaign for the Swans on the whole, having already sacked two managers, but they could find themselves eight points clear of the drop zone come the end of play today and will surely then be able to start planning for a mid-table finish.
Clement believes that as many as nine teams are currently involved in the exciting relegation battle, bringing Burnley and Watford - teams many neutrals feel are home and dry - into the equation. The experienced coach, who most recently enjoyed a short stint with close friend Carlo Ancelotti at Bayern Munich, knows better than anyone that his side are just a couple of bad results from being back in the relegation zone, however, so they cannot afford to take their eye off the ball.
Swansea had 12 points on the table when Clement was appointed in January, but they now find themselves on a far-more-respectable 27 and are looking up rather than down heading into this key fixture. Five wins in eight since the turn of the year, dropping points to just Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City - the latter a cruel defeat late on at the Etihad Stadium - has helped lift the club out of the mire at a time when their mid-term stay in the top flight looked to be coming to an end.
City have also got a serious knack of picking up maximum points against sides around them since Clement came on board, beating Crystal Palace in a Selhurst Park thriller to kickstart this current run of form, while most recently overcoming Burnley at the Liberty Stadium to make it three home wins in succession for the first time this season. Leicester, Southampton and, most impressive of all, Liverpool, have also been added to their list of conquests since the start of 2017.
As mentioned a little earlier, though, Swansea are not completely safe just yet and are targeting a point from this afternoon's match to keep them well afloat of danger. Games with Hull, Bournemouth and Middlesbrough either side of the two-week international break offers a further chance to get home and dry, however, with nine points from nine a serious target if they perform as they have done in recent months. Realistically speaking, Clement will instead be going for a draw in away games and three points in winnable home games.
Swansea, who have actually gone 15 games since last drawing a fixture, hold claim to having the worst defensive record in the top flight. Two more goals were added to that poor defensive tally last weekend when conceding twice to Burnley, but the brilliance of Llorente and Sigurdsson ensured that it mattered little in the end. It is worth highlighting those stats raised a little earlier once more - four assists and three goals in six outings for Sigurdsson; three goals in two games for Llorente.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Hull City have beaten Swansea City twice already this season, both by a 2-0 scoreline in the Premier League and FA Cup, with all four goals arriving in the final 15 minutes. Both previous top-flight encounters at the KCOM Stadium have finished in a 1-1 draw, meanwhile - the two sides sharing a win apiece in those fixtures.
With kickoff at the KCOM Stadium now less than five minutes away, let us turn attention to some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Marco Silva: "The last two games against them were two wins for us, but the next game is the most important. We need to win. We still have six games at home, and three over the next four weeks. We feel good when we play at home."
Paul Clement: "The first thing is we go there to try and win the game. But if we don't it is very important not to lose based on the gap of points between us and them. A point there would not be a bad result."
Silva stressing that three points are a must for his side this afternoon, then, while Clement is more than happy to return to South Wales with a point. Seven of the eight points claimed by Silva since taking charge in January have come on home soil, and the Tigers face three of the four sides around them at the KCOM Stadium between now and the end of the season - starting with this crucial clash against a Swansea side truly on the up under Clement.
KICKOFF! Hull City, four points from safety get us up and running at the KCOM Stadium. A big afternoon ahead for both them and opponents Swansea City, who could move eight points clear with a win on Humberside today.
The home side completely dominating possession in the opening few minutes, with Swansea happy to just sit back and soak up the pressure. The Swans happy to take the point today, remember, so expect them to play on the counter.
Swansea seeing more of the ball over the past couple of minutes, pushing bodies forward and winning a corner after a cross into the box was blocked behind. The cross into the box is flapped at by Jakupovic, who gets there at the second time of asking.
All of Swansea's play coming exclusively down the left-hand flank at the moment. Following a fairly dominant start in the opening couple of minute for Hull, the visitors have taken over and are enjoying some nice passing moves.
SAVE! Not really sure what Hull's gameplan is at the moment. Swansea completely bossing possession and should be ahead; Sigurdsson slotting the ball through for Routledge who failed to beat Jakupovic when one-on-one.
Yet again Sigurdsson showing there just why he is among the bets playmakers in the division. Routledge, handed a start after missing out last weekend, really should have done better when up against Jakupovic.
Grosicki gives away a free kick for Sigurdsson to swing the ball into the box from deep. Ranocchia and Llorente went for it but in the end Clucas appeared to get the only touch, with Jakupovic happy to sweep up the loose ball.
Hull have the ball in Swansea's final third for pretty much since the opening stages, but Hernandez's attempted shot is easily blocked on the edge of the box. The Tigers need to turn things back in their favour - and quickly!
SHOT! A first attempt of the afternoon for the hosts, as Huddlestone sends a shot from distance down the middle for Fabianski to comfortably get behind. Grosicki did well to pick out his teammate for that rare opening.
A cagey opening quarter to the match, which Swansea have edged so far. Best chance of the afternoon has fallen the way of Routledge, who failed to beat Jakupovic when slotted though on goal by Sigurdsson nine minutes in.
SAVE! Another save made by Jakupovic - this one far more routine. Another fantastic delivery into the box appeared to be flicked on by Llorente, but it was right down the middle and the Hull stopper was there to collect.
After seeing a replay of that previous opportunity, it was Huddlestone who got the last touch on Sigurdsson's cross - not Llorente. Really bright start to the match for the visiting side, who look more like the team in need of the win today.
Much like last weekend against Burnley, the quality of crosses into the box as far as Swansea are concerned is superb. Crying out for Llorente to get on the end of, but he has been penalised for pulling back on his opponent.
Very little action over the past couple of minutes. Ranocchia went in strong on Llorente, as he has done a few times already today, but that aside it has been a case of the two sides taking it in turns to knock the ball around.
Wets Ham currently lead at Bournemouth in one of the other two games taking place in the Premier League this afternoon - good news for both of these sides, with the Cherries still not yet completely safe. Antonio the scorer at the Vitality Stadium.
Half an hour played at the KCOM Stadium played and Hull have just won their first corner of the match. An awkward one for Fabianski, though he did what was required to collect the ball and end the Tigers' latest attacking move.
This match needs something to happen. Just a couple of shots at both ends combined so far - Huddlestone's long ranger easily dealt with by Fabianski and Jakupovic coming out on top in his battle with Routledge from seven yards.
Rangel, in for the injured Naughton today, is currently receiving some treatment to his calf. Amat has been sent to warm up on the touchline, so we could we see a change in personnel before the interval. Not ideal for the visitors!
SWANSEA CITY SUB! Rangel unable to shake off that injury problem, which was actually to his ankle rather than his calf following an earlier challenge with Grosicki. His first start under Clement ends early, with Jordi Amat stepping in.
SAVE! So very little penetration as far as Hull are concerned, with Swansea happy to let them pass the ball around in midfield. They do finally step things up, though, and Grosicki diverts Robertson's cross into the hands of Fabianski.
Grosicki on a one man mission at the moment, cutting in from the left and firing the ball wide of target. Another break in play now for Llorente to receive treatment following an awkward landing when jumping up for the ball.
Fer sends it long for Llorente, who is in no fit state to charge down the ball over the top. The Spaniard may be able to hold on for half time for the knock to settle down. Hernandez almost presented with a header from two yards out, but a brave Fabianski got to the ball first.
Fabianski the latest to receive treatment as Swansea's medical team work overtime. Rangel has already departed and Llorente does not look like he will last much longer, though the loss of their first-choice stopper would be a massive blow.
SWANSEA CITY SUB! Swansea are indeed forced into that second change, which is a little surprising just seconds from the interval. Llorente clearly has no hope of shaking off the knock, though, so Ayew is on in his place.
HALF TIME: HULL CITY 0-0 SWANSEA CITY
Olsson booked right on the brink of half time for a shove on N'Diaye - near enough the most exciting piece of action of the opening 45 minutes! A game of very little action so far, with Hull seeing a couple of shots kept out by Fabianski in a straightforward manner, while Swansea's best opening was squandered by Routledge inside the first 10 minutes.
The best chance of the first half fell the way of Wayne Routledge inside the opening 10 minutes, but the winger could not mark his return to the starting lineup with a goal. After latching on to a smart Gylfi Sigurdsson through-ball, Routledge failed to get the better of Eldin Jakupovic from close range and the hosts slowly started to see more of the ball from that point on.
Possession does not necessarily mean chances, though, and the Tigers' only two efforts of a flat opening 45 minutes came from range as both Tom Huddlestone and Kamil Grosicki saw their shots kept out by Lukasz Fabianski. The flow of the match was not helped by a number of niggling fouls, two of which saw the Swans forced into action to bring on reinforcements. Angel Rangel lasted 35 minutes of his first start under Paul Clement before limping off, while in-form striker Fernando Llorente did not stick around for much longer when injuring his thigh.
Not the greatest of first halves at the KCOM Stadium, then, but still 45 minutes ahead for one of these two sides to find a key breakthrough goal. It has been similar to the Tigers' last home outing, when also goalless against Burnley at the break before a far more entertaining second 45. Fingers crossed for a repeat!
HULL CITY SUBS: Marshall, Davies, Meyler, Maloney, Diomande, Niasse, Elmohamady
SWANSEA CITY SUBS: Nordfeldt, Kingsley, Britton, Narsingh, Borja
RESTART! We are back under way at the KCOM Stadium, where no further changes have been made by either manager at the break. Less surprising in Swansea's case, as they have already been forced into two alterations.
SHOT! Better from Hull, as they take just a couple of minutes of the second half to test Fabianski. A cross into the box was cleared as far as Huddlestone on the edge of the box, and his subsequent attempt was right down the middle.
The hosts starting to play some better football, adding more intent to their passes. Home fans know that three points need to be taken from this game, so the Tigers really need to move out of first gear in the remaining 40 minutes.
Silva not happy on the touchline as Grosicki fails to make the most of a free kick in a promising position. The ball was struck straight out of play and Swansea now able to regroup after being on the back foot for the past five minutes.
CHANCE! We have seen two clear-cut chances all afternoon, both of which have now fallen the way of Routledge. The winger was denied by Jakupovic early on, while on this occasions he blasted over from six yards out when the keeper could only palm a cross into his path.
For all of Hull's time on the ball this afternoon, it is Swansea who will feel more aggrieved not to have scored so far. Routledge with two killer chances to open the scoring, but his failure to take either means we are still goalless.
Carroll, who proved key last week with his deliveries, sends in another half-decent ball which is headed over by Ayew. Not even so much as a half-chance, though it is the Swans who are looking the more lively at the moment.
SAVE! Sigurdsson is clipped by Huddlestone and is given the chance to take on the free kick from 25 yards out. The Iceman gets it up and over the wall, but Jakupovic did well to get across and help the ball aside - good stop.
Real panic at the back for Hull from a Swansea corner. The ball bounced around and looked for all the world like being poked home from close range, but the offside flag went up against Routledge. Silva now springing into action, it seems.
HULL CITY SUB! Silva makes that overdue first change, bringing on Niasse for N'Diaye, meaning a change of system to go with it. Hernandez will no longer be isolated with another man up alongside him in attack.
CHANCE! The change in formation almost pays instant dividends, as Grosicki rounds Fabianski - with the Swansea keeper doing well not to give away a pen - but he cannot get away a clean shot on the open goal.
Approaching the final quarter of the match now and still there is very little to separate the sides. Swansea will be more than happy to take the point right now, though the Tigers will see this as two crucial points dropped at the bottom.
GOAL! HULL CITY 1-0 SWANSEA CITY (OUMAR NIASSE)
The inspired substitution pays off, or more specifically the decision to throw two men up top. Niasse was played clean through on goal by a fine first-time Hernandez pass and, unlike Routledge before him, made no mistake when one-on-one.
SWANSEA CITY SUB! A third and final change of the afternoon for the Swans, as Routledge is replaced by Narsingh in a like-for-like switch. The January signing will be disappointed not to have started this afternoon.
YELLOW CARD! Markovic goes right through the back of Olsson to rightly earn a yellow card. Worryingly for the Swans, the full-back has yet to get to his feet - moments after that third alteration was made.
HULL CITY SUB! Elmohamady is on for Markovic, as Silva brings on some fresh legs in the wide position. Olsson attempting to play on for these final 13 minutes or so but he is hobbling around the pitch at the moment.
GOAL! HULL CITY 2-0 SWANSEA CITY (OUMAR NIASSE)
Niasse, on the pitch for less than 15 minutes, has his second of the afternoon to surely seal the win! A simple punt into the box was left by Hernandez, and his teammate made no mistake when rifling a second past Fabianski.
HULL CITY SUB! Job done as far as Silva is concerned, as he reverts back to the original formation by bringing on Meyler for Hernandez. Just a case of seeing through the final eight minutes of this contest - what a win it would be!
Swansea win another free kick, which is blocked by Maguire on this occasion. Now just six minutes, plus around four minutes so of added time, left to play on Humberside. Hull doing more than enough to see this one through.
SHOT! Not far wide at all from Niasse, who drags a shot inches wide of the post as he goes in search of an unlikely hat-trick. Certainly sending a message out not only to Silva but also to Everton boss Ronald Koeman!
Swansea passing the ball around in a desperate attempt to find a route back into the game, but they are getting nowhere fast. Hull happy to just sit back now, much like their opponents were when it was all square for large parts of the match.
GOAL! HULL CITY 2-1 SWANSEA CITY (ALFIE MAWSON)
This one is not over quite yet! Mawson, now a proven goalscorer in the Premier League, heads home his latest goal from a whipped delivery into the box. Three minutes left to play at the KCOM Stadium - plenty of time for a late leveller.
Hull caught in two minds whether to go to the corner or hit Swansea on the counter. In the end the ball is slipped through for Meyler, who fails to get the better of Fabianski with only the keeper to beat. Should not matter, with seconds to go.
FULL TIME: HULL CITY 2-1 SWANSEA CITY
Referee Andre Marriner blows for full time, meaning three valuable points for Hull City. The turning point came shortly after the hour mark with the introduction of Oumar Niasse, who scored twice to help the Tigers to just a second league win in seven outings. Swansea City pulled one back through Alfie Mawson late on, but it was too little too late in the end.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at the KCOM Stadium. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while updates from the FA Cup clash between Arsenal and non-league Lincoln City are available here. Enjoy!
