Troy Deeney and Juninho Bacuna condemned Hull City to a seventh defeat in eight games as Birmingham City won 2-0 at the MKM Stadium.

Bacuna’s long-range effort added to Deeney’s first half penalty, who also missed one in the second half, to earn the Blues a second straight win, and at a ground where they had previously lost seven straight matches.

The result leaves Hull just a point above the relegation zone, the Tigers now failing to score in six of their last seven matches.

Pre-match

Caretaker boss Andy Dawson made four changes from his Hull side that lost at Huddersfield Town a week ago.

Callum Elder and Lewie Coyle missed out through injury and illness respectively while Regan Slater was serving a suspension. Ryan Longman was the other man to drop out, with Tobias Figueiredo, Greg Docherty, Jean Michael Seri and Dogukan Sinik coming into the side.

Chelsea loanee Xavier Simons was on the bench for the first time since joining the Tigers on deadline day.

Birmingham made two changes, with captain Deeney and Bacuna replacing George Hall and Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Dion Sanderson, who was suspended.

Story of the match

There was drama before the game even began. Officials could be seen sawing the goalposts to be two inches smaller due to them not being of regulation or equal size.

This required a recalibration of the HawkEye goal-line technology system, which delayed kick-off by 20 minutes.

When the action eventually got underway, the hosts carved out the first opening of the game. Dimitrios Pelkas combined well with Docherty on the right, with the latter blasting into the side netting.

The visitors were awarded a penalty on 13 minutes following a scuffle from a corner as Jacob Greaves was penalised for bundling over Krystian Bielik.

Deeney emphatically slammed the spot-kick home to put Birmingham ahead with his second goal of the season.

Hull were denied a leveller midway through the first half thanks to a sublime save from John Ruddy. A corner was met well by Cyrus Christie, only to be kept out by the right palm of the goalkeeper. Oscar Estupinan almost poked home the rebound before the visitors cleared.

Bacuna then forced Nathan Baxter into a save at the other end. The Curacao international’s low left-footed strike was tipped behind by the Tigers goalkeeper.

Christie was next to earn himself a half-chance, his driving run through the middle eventually saw his effort fizz wide.

Soon after, Pelkas’ through ball for Estupinan was just too heavy, with Hull continuing to look for the Colombian in behind. Ozan Tufan then curled high and wide.

A Blues penalty appeal was turned away late in the half. Hannibal Mejbri claimed he was brought down by Greaves, who had struggled and just gone into the referee’s notebook.

Seri had a chance just before half-time, with the midfielder’s strike from the edge of the box deflecting wide after he earned himself a yard of space as the visitors went into the interval in front.

Within minutes of the restart, the visitors doubled their lead. A cross-field ball from Tahith Chong found Bacuna, with the makeshift wing-back making no mistake in the finish as he rifled it past Baxter to send ‘Tequila’ ringing around the away end.

Bielik struck wide from the edge of the area after the ball dropped to the Derby County loanee following a cross from the right.

Sinik was forced off through injury on the hour mark, with 19-year-old Will Jarvis replacing him for just his second league appearance.

A dangerous-looking cross from Mejbri was turned behind by Figueiredo as Birmingham, looking for a killer third, had a succession of corners.

The visitors were handed a glorious opportunity to wrap the game up on 73 minutes when a mistake by Tufan allowed Chong through on goal. Baxter brought the Birmingham man down for a second penalty of the afternoon.

Deeney blazed over from 12 yards in an attempt to replicate his powerful first spot-kick and the score remained 2-0.

Birmingham professionally saw out the remainder of the game to climb to 12th and put an end to their 12-year losing run in East Yorkshire.

Hull travel to Blackpool on Wednesday night while Birmingham will welcome Burnley to St Andrew’s.

Player of the Match

Today's Player of the Match goes to Birmingham's Juninho Bacuna.

The midfielder was deployed in a less familiar right wing-back role as the Blues switched to a back three.

Bacuna was excellent as he got up and down the flank during the first half, and took his finish perfectly for the visitors' second goal.

It was the Curacaoan's third goal for the club.

Match Information

Hull City (4-2-3-1): Baxter; Greaves (c) (Williams 56), Figueiredo, Jones, Christie; Tufan (Longman 82), Seri (Woods 82); Sinik (Jarvis 63), Pelkas (Simons 82), Docherty; Estupinan. Subs: Ingram, McLoughlin.

Booked: Greaves, Sinik, Williams, Baxter.

Birmingham City (3-4-1-2): Ruddy; Trusty, Dean, Colin; Longelo, Bielik (James 90), Mejbri (Hall 86), Bacuna (Graham 78); Chong (Bellingham 78); Deeney (c) (Jutkiewicz 78), Hogan. Subs: Etheridge, Leko.

Booked: Colin, Bielik, Bacuna.

Referee: Leigh Doughty (Lancashire).

Attendance: 16,587.