Report: Hull City 1 - 0 Brighton & Hove Albion

Hull City opened their 2012/13 Championship season with a victory thanks to a late goal from substitute striker Jay Simpson.

The former Arsenal and Queens Park Rangers striker, who has found his opportunities at the KC restricted under former managers, benefitted from a good pre-season and took his chance when introduced as a late second half substitute. Simpson was able to latch onto a Joe Dudgeon pass across the six yard line to finish first-time into the roof of the net to ensure Steve Bruce`s reign started positively, albeit a little fortuitously.

Bruce`s task has been made harder by the absence of Matty Fryatt as Aaron Mclean partnered Nick Proschwitz up-front. Sone Aluko received his clearance to make his debut while Robert Koren was deployed in a deeper central midfield position, allowing him to dictate play and ultimately provide the key pass which led to City`s goal in the only true quality shown in the game.

Although Brighton dominated possession for long periods of the game, City had the best chance of the first-half as a swerving shot from Sone Aluko crashed off the cross-bar. At the other end, McKail-Smith was causing problems for Faye and Chester, but was wasteful in-front of goal while Noone saw two efforts go wide from distance.

In the second half, McKenna saw his long range effort tipped over the bar while Scottish striker McKail-Smith hit the cross-bar with a close range header just six minutes after half-time. Noone again went close before he was fortunate to stay on the pitch when rashly tackling Rosenior while already cautioned. He was soon substituted for Kazenga Lua-Lua, but it was Bruce`s substitution which proved pivotal as, after four minutes from being introduced, Simpson scored when proved to be the decisive goal.

Simpson could have added a second but was denied by Kuszczak before he struck the rebound over.

Having recorded their first victory, City now have two difficult away fixtures against new opposition - Blackburn Rovers who were relegated from the Premier League and Charlton Athletic who were promoted as champions of League 1.

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