Hull City — opposition report

Premier League 2026/27 · 8 matches (2026-08-22 to 2026-10-25) · W2 D4 L2 · goals 9–8 · npxG 7.6–10.4 · WhoScored event data, every sequence rebuilt from the raw feed

Early season: built from 8 league matches. League ranks and splits move a lot at this stage — read them as provisional, and lean on the clips.

The short version

How to beat themgame plan

Each line is generated from a finding that cleared its evidence bar; nothing here is a generic coaching point. The grey line says what it rests on; the button opens the sequences.

Beating their press

  1. In your own build-up area, play on one or two touches: don't try to dribble past their press, and keep first touches clean.

    37% of their high regains come straight after the opponent tries to dribble past someone or takes a bad touch (league median 29%); only 23% come from forward passes.

Transitions

  1. When you win it, go down their left side immediately.

    48% of the xG they concede after losing the ball comes down their left side (65 attacks, 15 shots), against 34% of their own attacking xG through that channel.

Set pieces

  1. Avoid conceding corners; mark John Egan first.

    23% of their corners end in a shot; first contacts: John Egan (3), Semi Ajayi (2), Tim Iroegbunam (2).

Shape and structurein possession, by phase

Where each player takes the ball in each phase of their possession, and who passes to whom. Event data has no off-ball positions, so this is the shape of their touches — the standard event-data proxy. A phase is defined by where the ball is, so the dots sit inside that phase's third (shaded): read the order and the width, not the depth of each line. Hull City attack left to right.

Semi Ajayi → Konstantinos Tzolakis: 23John Egan → Konstantinos Tzolakis: 17Lucas Herrington → Konstantinos Tzolakis: 14Nobel Mendy → Konstantinos Tzolakis: 13Konstantinos Tzolakis → Nobel Mendy: 12Konstantinos Tzolakis → Semi Ajayi: 11Konstantinos Tzolakis (GK) -- 285 touchesK. TzolakisNobel Mendy / Lucas Herrington (CB) -- 114 touchesN. Mendy / L. HerringtonSemi Ajayi (CB) -- 107 touchesS. AjayiJohn Egan (CB) -- 86 touchesJ. EganRegan Slater (CM) -- 72 touchesR. SlaterLewie Coyle (FB) -- 61 touchesL. CoyleRyan Giles (FB) -- 54 touchesR. GilesElliot Stroud (WM) -- 35 touchesE. StroudMohamed Belloumi (WM) -- 30 touchesM. BelloumiOliver McBurnie (ST) -- 28 touchesO. McBurnie

attacking → · shaded = the build-up zone

Most involved
  • Konstantinos Tzolakis52% of build-up phases
  • Semi Ajayi18% of build-up phases
  • John Egan16% of build-up phases
  • Regan Slater12% of build-up phases
Main connections
  • Semi Ajayi → Konstantinos Tzolakis23
  • John Egan → Konstantinos Tzolakis17
  • Lucas Herrington → Konstantinos Tzolakis14
  • Nobel Mendy → Konstantinos Tzolakis13
  • Konstantinos Tzolakis → Nobel Mendy12
  • Konstantinos Tzolakis → Semi Ajayi11

445 build-up phases. Dot = the median spot of a player's touches in this phase; size = share of touches; lines = consecutive touches between two players.

Their pressout of possession

33defensive actions per match in the opponent's final 40%
64%of opponent build-ups got out into the next third
3.8high regains per match
10%of those regains led to a shot

Who presses

  • Oliver McBurnie77
  • Mohamed Belloumi33
  • Elliot Stroud18
  • Ryan Giles13
  • Matt Crooks13
  • Regan Slater13

Tackles, interceptions, recoveries, blocks, challenges and fouls in the opponent's final 40%.

Every ball won in the opponent's third, by source

180 in the window. The press on a build-up = the first two rows: 28 (3.5 a match).

sourcetimesshareper matchshot
press: settled build-up taken off them2514%3.14%
press: their restart forced into an error before they settled32%0.40%
counter-press: won straight back after losing it116%1.427%
second ball: the opponent touched it but never controlled it14178%17.620%
↳ rebound after their own shot (saved or blocked)127%1.533%
↳ their cross / ball into the box, cleared5531%6.929%
↳ their long ball, only headed or touched away2614%3.212%
↳ after their own throw-in / set piece95%1.10%
↳ loose ball in their combination play (pass blocked or tackled)3922%4.913%

What triggers a regain

opponent wasshareleaguerank
dribbling or a loose touch37%29%5 / 20
passing forward23%25%13 / 20
passing sideways10%6%4 / 20
going long7%7%12 / 20
passing to a full-back3%14%20 / 20
taking a throw-in3%3%7 / 20
passing back0%3%13 / 20
passing to the keeper0%0%9 / 20
a loose ball0%0%1 / 20

Who got out, and how

0%25%50%75%100%0%25%50%75%share of build-ups that went longgot out of the pressCoventry: got out 76%, went long 28% (29 build-ups)CoventryBrentford: got out 71%, went long 19% (21 build-ups)BrentfordEverton: got out 70%, went long 25% (20 build-ups)EvertonAston Villa: got out 64%, went long 28% (25 build-ups)Aston VillaMan Utd: got out 64%, went long 23% (22 build-ups)Man UtdChelsea: got out 62%, went long 0% (16 build-ups)ChelseaFulham: got out 59%, went long 7% (27 build-ups)FulhamNewcastle: got out 48%, went long 39% (23 build-ups)

The opponents who went long most (30% of build-ups) got out 64% of the time; those who mostly played short (12% long) got out 64%. That is a lean, not proven at 20 matches (p=0.9738).

Best escapes: Coventry 76%; Brentford 71%; Everton 70%. One dot per match; hover for the opponent.

Transitions

When they win it

12.9fast attacks per match (counters, high transitions, high ball-wins)
18%end in a shot

Most often started by Mohamed Belloumi (15), Oliver McBurnie (11), Ryan Giles (8), Regan Slater (8).

Counter-press: losing it, by where

lost inlosseswon back within 5sled to a shot
own third2931%10%
midfield17424%7%
final third27227%0%

When they lose it — where the damage comes

48%65 attacks · 15 shots · 1.2 xG21%25 attacks · 7 shots · 0.5 xG30%49 attacks · 9 shots · 0.8 xG

17.4 opponent attacks per match after winning the ball in open play that broke forward fast or reached the final third. Shading and % = share of the xG they produced, by the channel they used. Hull City's goal is on the left. Central attacks carry more xG for every team, so compare with Hull City's own attacking xG in the same kind of channel (centre, or the average flank): left 48% conceded vs 34% own, right 30% conceded vs 34% own, centre 21% conceded vs 32% own.

Left
Right
Centre

Transition types

Every real turnover, named by the situation it came from. "Fast" = the side with the ball reached the final third within 10 seconds. Only real turnovers appear here: for everything the press wins high, including restarts it forced into an error, see "Every ball won in the opponent’s third" in the press section.

When they win the ball

typetimessharefastshotxG
Won high from a settled build-up (press)244%lg 5%29%4%lg 11%0.0
Won after their long possession (10+ passes)9415%lg 9%9%4%lg 3%0.3
Won straight back after losing it (counter-press)467%lg 13%26%13%lg 7%0.2
Won by stopping their counter234%lg 4%4%0%lg 0%0.0
Won in midfield13722%lg 25%35%4%lg 6%0.3
Won deep in own third26543%lg 38%9%2%lg 3%0.6
Won from their set piece325%lg 5%19%3%lg 3%0.1

When they lose the ball

typetimesshareopponent fastshot againstxG
Lost in own build-up under pressure214%lg 5%52%14%lg 11%0.4
Lost after own long possession (10+ passes)143%lg 9%36%14%lg 3%0.1
Lost straight after winning it8717%lg 12%45%10%lg 6%0.8
Lost during own counter224%lg 4%9%0%lg 0%0.0
Lost in midfield12023%lg 25%41%12%lg 6%1.0
Lost in the final third (attack broke down)23545%lg 39%18%3%lg 3%0.5
Lost from own set piece194%lg 5%11%11%lg 2%0.1

Possessions and turnovers in detailsub-categories

Every controlled possession is typed by how it was played, and every real turnover (a possession that was established and then lost) by what the losing side was doing, how it lost the ball and what the winner did next. "Settled" = sustained or worked possessions; "unsettled" = short, second-ball, counter and direct possessions.

29%of their turnovers the opponent turns into a fast attack · league 21%
45%Lost balls the opponent can’t keep · league 50%
10%of balls lost from settled possession lead to a shot against · league 4%
6%of balls lost from unsettled possession lead to a shot against · league 6%
17%of the balls they win become a fast attack · league 21%
4%of the balls they win produce a shot · league 5%

How they play their possessions (651 controlled open-play possessions)

typetimesshareended in a shotavg passes
sustained circulation (10+ passes)213%lg 11%14%lg 16%12.3
worked possession (4-9 passes)11818%lg 26%11%lg 10%5.7
direct attack12319%lg 13%1%lg 2%1.3
short possession (0-3 passes)16826%lg 21%2%1.4

When they lose the ball (518 turnovers) — their rest defence

the side losing it was in…timesfast attacksecuredlost straight backcan’t keep itshotxGhow it was lost
sustained circulation (10+ passes)1540%7%7%33%13%0.1pass cut out 6, long ball lost 4
worked possession (4-9 passes)8528%11%5%48%9%0.6pass cut out 42, long ball lost 25
direct attack10134%19%7%34%10%0.8long ball lost 50, pass cut out 33
short possession (0-3 passes)13938%9%6%42%6%0.7pass cut out 61, long ball lost 37
second-ball possession13022%11%9%52%5%0.6pass cut out 79, long ball lost 32
counter / fast transition2910%21%10%45%0%0.0pass cut out 15, bad touch 7
set piece1911%0%11%68%11%0.1pass cut out 11, bad touch 4

How they lose it

mechanismtimesshareled to a shot against
pass cut out24748%lg 52%4%
long ball lost15430%lg 24%8%
bad touch6412%lg 14%9%
tackled / dispossessed306%lg 6%17%
failed dribble173%lg 6%6%

When they win the ball (621 turnovers) — what they do with it

the opponent was in…timesfast attacksecuredlost straight backcan’t keep itshotxGhow it was lost
sustained circulation (10+ passes)949%10%5%66%4%0.3pass cut out 61, long ball lost 11
worked possession (4-9 passes)19919%6%13%55%5%0.8pass cut out 132, long ball lost 25
direct attack6111%20%20%36%0%0.0long ball lost 27, pass cut out 27
short possession (0-3 passes)10425%3%8%56%8%0.4pass cut out 44, bad touch 21
second-ball possession10420%12%14%47%1%0.1pass cut out 62, bad touch 20
counter / fast transition274%11%19%52%0%0.0pass cut out 18, tackled / dispossessed 4
set piece3219%9%6%56%3%0.1pass cut out 17, long ball lost 9

Fast attack = their final third or box reached within 10s. Secured = kept 10s+ or 4+ passes. Lost straight back = controlled, then lost within 5s. Can’t keep it = won the ball but never got it under control (cleared it, headed it away, blocked it or lost it at once).

Phase by phase: the typessub-categories

Each phase split into the situations it is made of, every row with its league median and clips. Shots are their own category: a possession that ends in a shot has finished, it has not lost the ball.

Build-up: how it starts and how it gets out (116 build-ups)

typetimessharegot outreached the boxlost in build-upshot
from the keeper / goal kick, played out short2017%lg 17%50%20%45%0%
from the keeper / goal kick, went long (bypass)1816%lg 13%44%6%39%0%
from the keeper / goal kick, stuck / recycled109%0%10%30%10%
from the back line, played out short76%lg 8%71%43%14%0%
from the back line, went long (bypass)54%lg 5%0%20%60%0%
from a throw-in, went long (bypass)65%lg 3%17%17%67%0%
straight after winning it, played out short1311%lg 16%62%23%31%15%
straight after winning it, went long (bypass)1816%lg 11%11%6%83%0%
straight after winning it, stuck / recycled1311%0%15%46%8%

Their press: what happens to every opponent build-up (199)

outcometimesshareopponent shot
won it high179%lg 10%0%
forced long, then won it back4121%lg 28%2%
forced long, they kept it74%lg 5%43%
they played through short9246%lg 30%10%
kept them stuck (recycled back)4221%lg 26%2%

Won high = the ball won in the opponent's own third. Forced long = the opponent left its third with a long ball (then either lost it in that possession, or kept it).

Chance creation: what created their shots

created byshotsshare of open playxGxG per shotgoals
cross814%lg 12%1.00.12lg 0.111
cutback59%lg 9%0.60.12lg 0.111
through ball23%lg 3%0.60.31lg 0.171
short pass / combination2645%lg 53%1.60.06lg 0.081
long ball47%lg 4%0.40.11lg 0.071
individual (dribble / self-made)916%lg 9%0.40.04lg 0.080
rebound / second ball47%lg 9%0.80.19lg 0.130
corner (set piece)12–1.20.102
free kick (indirect) (set piece)3–0.30.101
direct free kick (set piece)2–0.00.020
throw-in (set piece)9–0.70.080
penalty (set piece)1–0.80.791

Chances they concede: what created the opponent's shots

created byshotssharexGxG per shotgoals
cross1720%lg 11%2.10.120
cutback67%lg 9%0.40.070
through ball34%lg 3%0.90.290
short pass / combination4654%lg 53%3.80.087
long ball34%lg 4%0.20.050
individual (dribble / self-made)56%lg 11%0.30.060
rebound / second ball56%lg 10%0.80.160
corner (set piece)16–1.30.081
free kick (indirect) (set piece)4–0.20.050
direct free kick (set piece)6–0.10.020
throw-in (set piece)4–0.30.080
penalty (set piece)1–0.80.790

How their shots end

endingshotsshare
goal810%lg 9%
keeper held it911%lg 9%
keeper parried it78%lg 12%
blocked2226%lg 32%
off target3643%lg 37%
hit the woodwork22%

Penalties excluded. A "save" by an outfield player is a block.

Keeper transitions

After their keeper held a shot (17), median release 12s; league share turned into a fast attack 10%:

their keeper held it, then…timesshare
keeper released fast -> fast attack635%
keeper released quickly, no fast attack318%
keeper slowed the game847%

After their own shot was held by the opponent keeper (9); league share broken against fast 14%:

the opponent keeper held it, then…timesshare
keeper released fast -> fast attack222%
keeper released quickly, no fast attack333%
keeper slowed the game444%

Fast = the keeper's side reached its final third within 15s of the save. Quick = first pass within 6s.

When it breaks downevery phase

The other half of each phase above. Their own phases break down when they lose the ball (real turnovers only); their press and block break down when the opponent gets through. Each card: how often, how, where, who is involved, and what it costs them.

Build-up breaks down

131 balls lost in 445 build-up phases (29%)

giveaways per 10 build-up phases: 2.7/10 · league 2.7/10

How
  • long ball lost77
  • pass cut out34
  • bad touch10
  • tackled / dispossessed6
Where
  • left wing33
  • left half-space33
  • right half-space26
  • right wing24
Who
  • Konstantinos Tzolakis53
  • Oliver McBurnie11
  • Regan Slater7
  • Elliot Stroud7

What it costs: 46% turned into a fast attack · 40% the opponent can’t keep · 14% led to a shot · 1.4 xG

Progression breaks down

152 balls lost in 503 middle-third phases (30%)

giveaways per 10 middle-third phases: 2.8/10 · league 2.7/10

How
  • pass cut out79
  • long ball lost32
  • bad touch23
  • tackled / dispossessed11
Where
  • right wing42
  • left wing31
  • right half-space30
  • centre26
Who
  • Oliver McBurnie29
  • Regan Slater16
  • Mohamed Belloumi15
  • Sorba Thomas11

What it costs: 30% turned into a fast attack · 35% the opponent can’t keep · 7% led to a shot · 1.0 xG

Final third breaks down

179 balls lost in 359 final-third phases (50%)

deliveries into the box that fail to arrive: 68% · league 58%

How
  • pass cut out119
  • bad touch27
  • long ball lost17
  • failed dribble8
Where
  • centre80
  • left half-space31
  • right half-space28
  • left wing24
Who
  • Ryan Giles41
  • Mohamed Belloumi24
  • Lewie Coyle21
  • Oliver McBurnie20

What it costs: 15% turned into a fast attack · 58% the opponent can’t keep · 1% led to a shot · 0.1 xG

71 deliveries into the box did not arrive

Counter-attacks fail

29 of 45 counter-attacks lost (64%)

attacking transitions that produce a shot: 18% · league 18%

How
  • pass cut out15
  • bad touch7
  • long ball lost3
  • failed dribble3
Where
  • centre13
  • left half-space5
  • right half-space5
  • right wing4
Who
  • Ryan Giles5
  • Mohamed Belloumi4
  • Sorba Thomas4
  • Oliver McBurnie3

What it costs: 10% turned into a fast attack · 45% the opponent can’t keep · 0% led to a shot · 0.0 xG

45 counters: 12 ended in a shot, 29 were lost, 4 slowed down or went out

Their press is beaten

118 of 183 opponent build-ups got out (64%)

opponent build-ups that get out cleanly: 64% · league 45%

How
  • short pass59
  • carry26
  • long ball22
  • clearance2
Where
  • right half-space29
  • centre28
  • left half-space20
  • right wing18
Who
  • centre-back60
  • central midfielder19
  • goalkeeper19
  • full-back8

What it costs: 42% reached the final third · 10% led to a shot · 1.0 xG

Sides are their own: "down the left" = down their left.

Their block is broken

161 box entries in 586 opponent final-third phases (27%)

opponent final-third phases that create: 51% · league 50%

How
  • carry88
  • short pass29
  • cross18
  • dribble9
Where
  • left half-space47
  • centre42
  • right half-space38
  • left wing18
Who
  • winger55
  • full-back30
  • striker25
  • central midfielder22

What it costs: 38% led to a shot · 7.2 xG

Sides are their own.

Set pieces backfire

19 set pieces lost in open play

How
  • pass cut out11
  • bad touch4
  • long ball lost3
  • error1
Where
  • centre10
  • right wing3
  • left half-space3
  • right half-space2
Who
  • Mohamed Belloumi3
  • Ryan Giles3
  • Oliver McBurnie3
  • Konstantinos Tzolakis3

What it costs: 11% turned into a fast attack · 68% the opponent can’t keep · 11% led to a shot · 0.1 xG

Their corners and free kicks that were lost in open play, and what the opponent did next.

Set piecesattacking corners

31corners (3.9 per match)
23%end in a shot
0.5xG from corners

Delivery

  • near post45%shot 29% · 0.1 xG
  • central39%shot 17% · 0.3 xG
  • far post16%shot 20% · 0.0 xG

Who

Takers: Mohamed Belloumi (10), Regan Slater (8), Sorba Thomas (6)

First contact in the box: John Egan (3), Semi Ajayi (2), Tim Iroegbunam (2), Matt Crooks (1), Nobel Mendy (1)

Key players

What each player does in the phases, counted over the window. Only lines that clear a minimum count are shown.

Mohamed BelloumiWM
  • gets it into the box 24 times (29% end in a shot)
  • 22 shots, 1.3 npxG, 3 goals
  • 17 ball wins high up the pitch
Oliver McBurnieST
  • gets it into the box 11 times (45% end in a shot)
Semi AjayiCB
  • takes it into the final third 24 times (46% become a chance)
Konstantinos TzolakisGK
  • plays 33 build-up exits (36% carry on cleanly)

Where a player changes the outcome (p<0.05)

Against the leaguesupporting evidence

The comparison behind the report: each behaviour as a rate per opportunity, ranked among the 20 Premier League clubs' full seasons, with how many of the 8 matches sat on the same side of the league median. "Style" is never a verdict.

behaviourHull Cityleague medianrankmatches
styleturnovers won straight back (counter-press)7%13%20 / 208/8
stylecontrolled possessions that are worked possessions (4-9 passes)18%26%20 / 208/8
styleone two wall pass per 100 final third phases0.3/1001.9/10020 / 207/8
weaknessturnovers the opponent turned into a fast attack29%21%1 / 207/8
weaknessopponent build-ups that got out cleanly64%45%2 / 208/8
weaknessphases with nobody in control (contested)27%22%1 / 207/8
weaknessballs lost from a settled possession that led to an opponent shot10%4%1 / 207/8
styleturnovers that came from a long ball not reaching its man30%24%1 / 207/8
stylegoalkeeper-started build-ups he ends himself with a long ball64%45%2 / 208/8
styleturnovers that came from a failed dribble3%6%20 / 208/8
weaknessballs lost in midfield that led to an opponent shot12%6%1 / 206/8
styleturnovers lost in the final third45%39%1 / 206/8
weaknessopponent middle-third phases that progressed80%69%1 / 207/8
stylecontrolled possessions that are direct attacks (<=3 passes, fast and forward)19%13%1 / 206/8
styleturnovers lost straight after winning it17%12%1 / 207/8
stylefinal-third entries played by a centre-back47%22%1 / 207/8
stylecontrolled possessions that are sustained circulation (10+ passes)3%11%20 / 208/8
stylecut inside per 100 final third phases0.8/1002.1/10020 / 207/8
Their most dangerous routes
phaseroutetimesshottheir average
How they change against different opponents
splitbehaviourabp
against the more aggressive pressers vs the deeper / passive sideschance-creation phases that produced a shot20%35%0.0206
against the more aggressive pressers vs the deeper / passive sidesbox entries with a cross5%20%0.038
against the more aggressive pressers vs the deeper / passive sidescounter-attacks4.0/match7.5/match0.0404
when trailing vs when levelbuild-up giveaways that led to an opponent shot within 15s13%2%0.0371
second half vs first halfchance-creation phases that produced a shot36%18%0.0058
The 8 matches
dateopponentresultnpxGopponent presswhat happened
2026-08-22vs Man UtdW 2-01.0–1.8mid-intensity pressWon 2-0 on fewer chances (1.03 v 1.79 xG). Man Utd pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 13.9, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: PPDA, strict (opponent passes in their own 60% per committed ball-winning action) 26.9, far above their usual 19.1.
2026-08-29at CoventryW 1-00.5–1.2mid-intensity pressWon 1-0 on fewer chances (0.54 v 1.20 xG). Coventry pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 12.8, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: build-up exits down the right 20%, far below their usual 44%.
2026-09-05vs Aston VillaD 0-00.5–1.5mid-intensity pressDrew 0-0 (0.52 v 1.48 xG). Aston Villa pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 14.6, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: giveaways regained within 5s (counter-press) 14%, far below their usual 26%.
2026-09-12at ChelseaD 2-21.5–0.8mid-intensity pressDrew 2-2 (1.51 v 0.78 xG). Chelsea pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 15.0, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: final-third phases that created (box entry or key pass) 36%, far below their usual 52%.
2026-09-19at NewcastleL 1-21.5–0.7mid-intensity pressLost 1-2 despite the better chances (1.54 v 0.67 xG) -- a finishing / goalkeeping defeat more than a tactical one. Newcastle pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 14.5, league median 14.4) and went long on 50% of their own build-ups. Biggest departure from their norm: opponent build-ups that got out cleanly 48%, far below their usual 64%.
2026-10-11vs EvertonD 2-21.3–1.5pressed aggressivelyDrew 2-2 (1.35 v 1.48 xG). Everton pressed harder than a typical Premier League side does (strict PPDA 11.2, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: build-up exits down the left 25%, far below their usual 42%.
2026-10-17at FulhamL 0-10.2–1.3pressed aggressivelyLost 0-1 and the chances agreed (0.20 v 1.33 xG). Fulham pressed harder than a typical Premier League side does (strict PPDA 7.7, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: giveaways that led to an opponent shot within 15s 8%, far above their usual 3%.
2026-10-25vs BrentfordD 1-10.9–1.7pressed aggressivelyDrew 1-1 (0.86 v 1.71 xG). Brentford pressed harder than a typical Premier League side does (strict PPDA 9.8, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: final-third entries by carrying it in 25%, far above their usual 15%.

Method and limits

◀ Tactical Analyst
Vision AI · building report