Lewis Koumas has loan debut to remember as Liverpool youngster scores dramatic winner

Lewis Koumas came off the bench to score on his Hull City debut and secure a crucial 1-0 Championship win at Blackburn Rovers, moving the Tigers third in the table.

Hull City's Lewis Koumas celebrates scoring(Image: PA)

Lewis Koumas emerged from the substitutes' bench to make a stunning debut impact, securing Hull City a vital 1-0 victory at beleaguered Blackburn Rovers and propelling them to third position in the Championship.

Liverpool youngster Koumas spent the first half of the season on loan at Birmingham but struggled to nail down a regular starting spot. He scored just once for the Championship side in 23 appearances.

The Welsh youngster was recalled by Liverpool last week before completing a loan move to Hull and he had a debut to remember as he scored the winning goal from the bench for the Tigers.

In what has become a recurring theme when facing Rovers this campaign, City struggled to fashion opportunities and, for the third time this season, found themselves unable to penetrate their stubborn defensive line, reports Hull Live.

Throughout a largely uninspiring encounter, Sergej Jakirovic's side appeared inferior and lacking cohesion, before Koumas struck nine minutes from the final whistle following exquisite build-up play, quite possibly the sole moment of genuine quality on display.

A fourth successive triumph maintains the Tigers' strong pursuit of promotion, and whilst the performance lacked aesthetic appeal, such details carry little weight at this juncture of the campaign.

Spurred on by a passionate travelling contingent, City began brightly and created the opening opportunity within four minutes when Gelhardt was narrowly beaten whilst attempting to direct a header goalwards, and from this moment, Charlie Hughes' strike deflected into Amir's path, with his effort blocked.

Following a promising spell from the hosts, City manufactured a chance when Slater won possession impressively and surged into the area before firing low and compelling a fine stop from Toth in the Rovers net.

City were considerably off the pace, surrendering possession with alarming regularity, and were incapable of retaining it sufficiently to build any attacking impetus with Todd Cantwell orchestrating proceedings.

Highly-regarded full-back Ryan Alebiosu drifted into the penalty area before bending towards the far post, only to be denied by the outstretched palm of Ivor Pandur pushing clear. City, from the resulting corner, countered through Millar but he witnessed his attempt smothered.

Cantwell was subsequently cautioned for an unpleasant tackle on McBurnie, which infuriated the City player, who evidently believed it warranted more, sprinting to protest with the nearest assistant.

In fairness, it was an uninspiring first half and another 46 minutes where City laboured to fashion openings, with the timer climbing beyond 300 minutes of football this campaign against Rovers, during which they've been unable to find the net.

Lewis Miller was brought on at the beginning of the second half in place of Ryan Alebiosu, who had been amongst Rovers' more effective performers in the opening period. Moussa Baradji came on for Forshaw just shy of the hour mark, moments after City had worries regarding Hughes following an extended period of treatment within his own penalty area.

Pandur produced an excellent stop to thwart Ohashi's header at the far post, as the home side continued to pose greater attacking threat, whilst a laboured display from the Tigers persisted.

It came as no shock when Jakirovic implemented a double substitution on the hour, introducing Hirakawa and Kieran Dowell in place of Lundstram and Millar, shortly after Jorgensen had nodded wide of the target.

De Neve and Gudjohnsen were introduced with 25 minutes remaining and City still struggling, proving unable to penetrate the hosts' defence. That opportunity materialised when Yu nodded a delivery downwards and incredibly, Dowell fired over from six yards out.

Matty Jacob came on for Famewo with 20 minutes remaining, swiftly followed by Kyle Joseph and Lewis Koumas making his debut and what a contribution it proved to be.

Slick one-touch passing between Amir and Joseph saw him slip it through for Koumas to advance and finish beneath Toth in front of 3,000 travelling supporters. McLoughlin received a caution for his objections to what he believed was an offside decision.

Joseph ought to have wrapped up the victory when played through, but Toth produced a superb save to keep Rovers alive, and despite seven minutes of stoppage time, Jakirovic's side claimed another three points and clean sheet.