Lewis Koumas Nets Late Winner As Hull City Climb Third

Lewis Koumas could hardly have scripted a more dramatic start to his Hull City career. Just days after sealing a loan move from Liverpool, the 18-year-old forward stepped off the bench to net the decisive goal in a gritty 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park—a result that propelled Hull City into third place in the Championship and extended their winning streak to four matches.

It’s been a whirlwind few weeks for Koumas. After spending the first half of the 2025/26 season on loan at Birmingham City—where he struggled for consistent minutes and managed just one goal in 23 appearances—Liverpool recalled their promising youngster in January. The Reds quickly found him a new home, sending him to Hull City on loan until the end of the season, hoping a change of scenery would give the Welsh forward the platform to shine.

And shine he did. The build-up to this clash saw Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic make only one change to his starting lineup from the side that bested Swansea City a week prior. New signings Paddy McNair and Koumas were named among the substitutes, and with the Tigers boasting an impressive run of form, anticipation was high among the 3,000 travelling Hull fans packed into the away end at Ewood Park.

The match itself, however, was anything but a showcase of attacking flair. Both sides struggled for rhythm, with Hull initially looking the brighter as Liam Millar and Regan Slater probed the Blackburn defence. But as the first half wore on, the contest became increasingly cagey, with neither side able to establish dominance or carve out clear-cut opportunities. Blackburn’s best spell came after the break, and their new striker Mathias Jorgensen headed over just before the hour mark—a chance that, in hindsight, Rovers would rue.

Hull City’s struggles in front of goal against Blackburn have become a recurring theme this season. For more than 300 minutes of football across three meetings, the Tigers had failed to breach the Rovers’ backline. The tension was palpable as the clock ticked down, and Jakirovic, recognizing the need for fresh impetus, turned to his bench. On came Kyle Joseph and Lewis Koumas around the 76th minute—a move that would prove inspired.

It took just five minutes for the new arrivals to make their mark. Amir Hadziahmetovic, who was later named Man of the Match, orchestrated a slick one-touch passing move with Joseph, who then slipped the ball through to Koumas. With nerves of steel, the Liverpool loanee coolly slotted home from close range in the 81st minute, sending the Hull supporters into raptures and delivering what would prove to be the game’s only goal.

Blackburn, desperate to halt their alarming slide, responded with renewed urgency. Substitute Lewis Miller and midfielder Todd Cantwell tried to rally the hosts, but Hull’s defence—well marshalled and tactically disciplined—stood firm. Rovers’ winless streak stretched to eight matches, leaving them mired in the relegation zone and piling further pressure on head coach Valerien Ismael.

Ismael, speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire after the match, expressed his frustration: “I think it’s not about the performance today, it’s not about the desire or the mentality. What we have to complain about is take our chances, it’s as simple as that. At some point you have to take your chances when you dominate the game like this. You’re on the front foot, on top of the opposition, and you have to get the reward and make sure you score a goal. I think it will help us and all of a sudden, in the second half from nothing, we concede that goal and after that late in the game, it’s tough for the players because, as I said, they try to give everything in the game.”

For Hull City, the mood was understandably more upbeat. Jakirovic, speaking to BBC Radio Humberside, praised his side’s resilience and tactical maturity: “I think this is our biggest advantage, that we can play good on the ball even when we are bad on the ball. Like today, we were not good on the ball. But this is also a very demanding, tough pitch. It’s not easy, and Blackburn are fighting for every point. But we now have stability and have found balance in our team tactically. We defended the box very well because Blackburn are first in the league for number of crosses inside, which was very important. Maybe some decisions in the last third we could have found better options. But this is how players see the situation, and I don’t have a joystick there.”

The victory was all the more impressive given Hull’s patchy performance for much of the match. The Tigers were second best for large spells, struggling to retain possession and create opportunities. Yet, in football, moments of quality often decide the outcome, and on this day, that moment belonged to Lewis Koumas. The teenager nearly returned the favour to Joseph in the dying minutes, but Rovers’ keeper Balasz Toth pulled off a smart save to keep the deficit at one.

Koumas’ debut strike not only secured three vital points for Hull but also gave the youngster the perfect springboard to establish himself in Jakirovic’s plans. As a winger/forward, he brings pace and directness—qualities that could prove invaluable as Hull continue to chase promotion. For a player whose career had stalled at Birmingham, this was a statement performance, and Hull fans will be hoping it’s just the beginning.

The match, played in front of 13,769 spectators, was a testament to the unpredictable nature of the Championship. Hull City’s ability to grind out results, even when not at their best, has kept them firmly in the promotion race. Meanwhile, Blackburn’s woes continue, with another fixture looming against Sheffield Wednesday—a must-win if they hope to climb out of the relegation mire.

As the final whistle blew and Hull’s players celebrated in front of their jubilant supporters, the story of the day was clear: Lewis Koumas, the Liverpool loanee with a point to prove, had seized his moment. With Hull City now sitting third and momentum on their side, the Tigers look set to keep the pressure on the league’s top two. And for Koumas, the future suddenly looks a lot brighter.