Stoke City 1-2 Hull City: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Ladbrokes’ post-match review of Stoke City 1-2 Hull City in the Championship on Saturday, 29 November 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Stoke City took an early lead when S. Thomas found the net in the 17th minute, giving the home side a platform to build on in the first half. Hull City made tactical changes at the break, with J. Ndala and D. Gyabi coming off for K. Joseph and M. Belloumi respectively in the 46th minute, which seemed to spark their response. Just three minutes later, S. Ajayi equalised for Hull in the 48th minute, assisted by M. Belloumi, shifting the momentum as the visitors began to press.

Stoke responded with a substitution in the 69th minute, as D. Mubama replaced R. Bozenik, while Hull brought on A. Famewo for R. Giles in the 68th minute to shore up their defence. Further changes came for Hull in the 80th minute, with J. Lundstram and A. Hadziahmetovic replacing E. Destan and R. Slater. The decisive moment arrived in the 90th minute when J. Gelhardt scored for Hull, assisted again by M. Belloumi, securing a late victory amid a flurry of late yellow cards that added tension to the closing stages.

Stoke City’s 56% possession edge suggested they controlled more of the ball, but Hull’s efficiency in transitions shone through with 8 corners to Stoke’s 7 and fewer successful dribbles at 30 compared to Stoke’s 41, indicating the visitors were more clinical despite less time on the ball. The card count highlighted a feisty encounter, with Hull picking up 4 yellows—including E. Destan in the 76th, M. Crooks in the 90+6th, K. Joseph in the 90+8th, and J. Lundstram in the 90+8th—while Stoke had 2, for B. Lawal in the 90+6th and A. Phillips in the 90+8th, which disrupted the flow but didn’t lead to any reds. Hull’s 2 assists, both from M. Belloumi, directly contributed to their goals, and their use of all 5 substitutions—compared to Stoke’s 3—helped maintain energy levels, particularly in the second half where fresh legs like Belloumi and Gelhardt made the difference.

Hull’s substitutions at 46’, 68’, and 80’ allowed them to adapt and exploit spaces, while Stoke’s later changes at 69’ and 86’—including S. N’Zonzi replacing B. Pearson and S. Gallagher coming on for M. Manhoef—came too late to turn the tide, with no penalties or injury-time goals for either side beyond the 90th-minute strike.

The match turned on Hull’s quick response after half-time, with S. Ajayi levelling in the 48th minute from M. Belloumi’s assist, erasing Stoke’s early advantage from S. Thomas’s 17th-minute goal. Hull’s double substitution at the break, bringing on K. Joseph for J. Ndala and M. Belloumi for D. Gyabi, injected pace and creativity that shifted the balance. The late drama peaked with J. Gelhardt’s 90th-minute winner, again assisted by Belloumi, while a spate of yellow cards in added time—for Stoke’s B. Lawal and A. Phillips, and Hull’s M. Crooks, K. Joseph, and J. Lundstram—underscored the intensity, though no reds altered the numbers.

Hull’s further tweaks, like A. Famewo replacing R. Giles in the 68th and the 80th-minute switches of J. Lundstram for E. Destan and A. Hadziahmetovic for R. Slater, helped them manage the game effectively, contrasting with Stoke’s substitutions such as D. Mubama for R. Bozenik in the 69th and the late double change in the 86th.

Stoke City lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with the midfield duo providing a solid base for the attacking three to support the lone striker. Standout partnerships included the central defensive axis holding firm early on, while the wide players looked to exploit spaces, though the setup struggled to convert possession into clear chances after the opener.

Hull City deployed a 4-4-2 shape, allowing for a balanced midfield that transitioned quickly into attacks with two forwards pressing high. Key roles saw the wingers providing width and service, forming effective links with the strikers, which paid off in the second half through assists and goals.

M. Belloumi earned Man of the Match honours for his pivotal role in Hull’s comeback, providing assists for both S. Ajayi’s equaliser in the 48th minute and J. Gelhardt’s late winner in the 90th. Coming on as a substitute at half-time for D. Gyabi, he transformed the visitors’ attacking threat with his vision and delivery, consistently troubling Stoke’s defence and proving decisive in turning the game.

Recent Championship matches:

• Loss: 1-2 vs Hull City (H)
• Win: 3-0 vs Charlton Athletic (H)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Leicester City (A)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Coventry City (H)
• Win: 3-0 vs Oxford United (A)

Recent Championship matches:

• Win: 2-1 vs Stoke City (A)
• Loss: 0-2 vs Ipswich Town (H)
• Loss: 2-3 vs Queens Park Rangers (A)
• Win: 3-2 vs Portsmouth (H)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Derby County (A)

Stoke City will look to bounce back from this home defeat, where they let an early lead slip, as they face their next Championship fixture aiming to tighten up defensively and make better use of their possession dominance.

Hull City can build on this hard-fought away win, secured by a late goal, heading into their next match with confidence in their substitutes’ impact and ability to grind out results under pressure.

Ladbrokes brings you the most exciting betting promotions and the latest betting offers to enhance your experience.

For the best Championship outright predictions, explore our Outright Betting guide.

Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.