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Joe Gelhardt's well-taken goal began Hull's comeback against Oxford Hull City recovered from conceding the opening goal to beat Oxford United at MKM Stadium and move five points clear of the Championship relegation zone. Michal Helik's well-struck volley from a Matt Phillips corner looked to have put Oxford on course for only a second league win away from home this season. However, their winless Championship run was extended to nine games as Hull responded quickly to that setback and netted twice in four second-half minutes to secure victory. Joe Gelhardt collected Kasey Palmer's pass to equalise from close range, before Gustavo Puerta's shot from a tight angle went in via the post and Oxford goalkeeper Jamie Cumming. The visitors almost grabbed a point late on, but Przemyslaw Placheta's looping volley from 25 yards hit the crossbar and bounced clear. Puerta was shown a second yellow card for simulation in stoppage time and was sent off, but Hull played for only a few seconds with 10 men before the full-time whistle blew. Relive Wednesday's Championship games The win took the Tigers above Oxford in the table and left Gary Rowett's team four points above third-from-bottom Derby. However, midweek wins for all of the bottom three sides - the Rams, Luton and Plymouth - have tightened things up at the foot of the second tier. Both captains went close to scoring in a goalless first half, with Hull's Lewie Coyle volleying just wide of the post and visiting skipper Elliott Moore nodding wide from Phillips' free-kick. Moore limped off injured after an hour, although his team-mates found themselves in front shortly afterwards thanks to fellow centre-back Helik, who scored his second goal in 11 appearances since joining from League One side Huddersfield in January. The Poland international was the Terriers' leading scorer in the Championship last season with nine goals and he produced an assured finish from 12 yards to open the scoring. Gelhardt had looked Hull's most likely scorer for much of the game, forcing a low save from Cumming before half-time and then firing over from Abu Kamara's neat cutback after the interval. Following Gelhardt's leveller, Puerta's effort found its way in from an almost impossible angle for the winner. His evening would end slightly prematurely, however, with referee Josh Smith deeming he had gone over too easily in the penalty area, despite contact by an Oxford defender. Hull boss Ruben Selles, speaking to BBC Radio Humberside: "Oxford is a good opponent and it was difficult to break them in the first half. "The goal came when we were just about to make substitutions, but I think our substitutions were brilliant. "The game completely changed when we had the unpredictability of Kasey [Palmer], Mason [Burstow] on the left side giving us something different and Regan [Slater] in the middle. "We fought really hard, it's always difficult to win those games but I'm proud of the character that the team showed. " Oxford boss Gary Rowett, speaking to BBC Radio Oxford: "I'm really angry if I'm being honest because, quite frankly, we've thrown the game away. That's how it feels. "It felt like an incredible opportunity, at 1-0, to win the game. It took a lot of hard work to get there. I don't think we necessarily started as well as we wanted to, we were a little bit passive early in the game but we grew into the game. "We got ourselves into a good position and, when you do that, you've got to protect the goal and the lead with your life. Earlier on in my tenure we were doing that, but today we allowed two very soft goals. "Unfortunately, if you're going to play with that sort of naivety in the Championship, you're going to make it a very difficult end to the season. "I'm just frustrated because we've gone from a position of winning games, seeing those moments out and looking very solid, to feeling like we've got more to give, we're not quite giving it and I'm not quite sure why. "That's probably the harshest I've been with the players in the dressing room and it really does feel as though we've thrown something away today. " Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 12th March 2025 at 21: 58 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Rubén Sellés Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Gary Rowett Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Rubén Sellés Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Gary Rowett Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions Hull City are unbeaten across their last eight home league games against Oxford United (W5 D3), winning their last home fixture against the U’s in March 2021 2-0 in League One. After winning the reverse fixture 1-0 in November, Oxford United will be looking to record a first league double over Hull City since the 1988-89 season. After beating Plymouth Argyle 2-0, Hull are looking to win successive home league games for the first time since November 2023 (run of 3). Oxford have failed to win, or score, in their last two midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (D1 L1), having won three of their previous four matches prior. Hull are winless in their last eight Championship games against newly promoted sides (D4 L4) since a 4-2 win over Sheffield Wednesday in August 2023. Match ends, Hull City 2, Oxford United 1. Second Half ends, Hull City 2, Oxford United 1. Second yellow card to Gustavo Puerta (Hull City). Gustavo Puerta (Hull City) has gone down, but the referee deems it simulation. Foul by Kasey Palmer (Hull City). Mark Harris (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt blocked. Idris El Mizouni (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Kasey Palmer. Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time. Foul by Mason Burstow (Hull City). Hidde ter Avest (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Substitution, Hull City. John Egan replaces Abu Kamara. Gustavo Puerta (Hull City) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Hidde ter Avest (Oxford United). Gustavo Puerta (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Michal Helik (Oxford United). Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) hits the bar with a left footed shot from outside the box following a set piece situation. Substitution, Oxford United. Idris El Mizouni replaces Alex Matos. Foul by Lewie Coyle (Hull City). Siriki Dembélé (Oxford United) wins a free kick on the left wing. Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.