Hull City's dreadful form at the MKM Stadium continued in a game they could ill afford to lose, going down to a damaging 2-1 loss to Stoke City, having been in front and completely dominant.

The Tigers hit the front early when Stoke failed to clear a well-worked corner routine, and McLoughlin headed towards goal and on his home debut, Eliot Matazo turned in from close range.

Chances came and went for the hosts, who eventually lost their way towards the end of the first half and the sucker-punch came when Ali Al-Hamadi, who Ruben Selles picked out before the game as a key threat, was unmarked at the back post to thump in the equaliser two minutes before the break.

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Andrew Moran turned brilliantly inside the box to thump past Ivor Pandur with just over 15 minutes to go, and puncture all the optimism of the win at Sheffield United last Friday night, leaving City to face up to yet more woe in front of their own supporters after such optimism in the build-up.

Selles made three changes from the thumping win at Sheffield United, with Matty Jacob, Eliot Matazo and Joao Pedro coming into the starting XI. Matt Crooks and Kyle Joseph dropped to the bench while there was no Fin Burns in the squad. New signing Louie Barry was named amongst the substitutes, and there was a return for Lewie Coyle after his ankle injury.

Mark Robins side started the brighter of the two in truth, but it was the hosts who grabbed the precious first goal when a clever move earned City a corner, from which Stoke failed to deal with a short routine, Steven Alzate clipped in a lovely ball which McLoughlin attacked, and after a scramble, Matazo turned in from close range, albeit at a tight angle.

Confidence was flowing in the home side, and Kamara tucked in from the right before fizzing a difficult effort straight at Viktor Johansson, before nifty footwork inside the box from McLoughlin almost yielded an opening for Pedro, who went down under a heavy challenge - the free-kick went against him.

The Tigers should have doubled their lead after 20 minutes with two quick chances, both well saved by Johansson. The first, Pedro did brilliantly to hold it up and lay the pass off to Matazo whose shot was saved by the Stoke number one, and moments later, Kamara laid it off for Pedro to strike low and again, the stopper made a smart low save.

After a pretty difficult start, Lynden Gooch was replaced by Junior Tchamadeu in the first change of the afternoon, but the halt in momentum saw the hosts lose their way.

City's defensive worries resurfaced again two minutes before the break when Drameh lost Ali Al-Hamadi at the back post to crunch in the equaliser and punish the Tigers for a really poor end to the half after a terrific start.

Stoke should have been in front at the start of the second half when Al-Hamadi breezed past Jacob and into the box on the left, his cut-back for Wilson-Esbrand was going in until Drameh blocked well.

City, straight on the attack, came close when Kamara laid it off to Pedro to drive at goal and acrobatically, Johansson turned away and then McLoughlin turned the corner straight at the in-form goalkeeper. Matazo then drove just over from the edge of the box.

Just before the hour, Selles made a triple change with Louie Barry and Kyle Joseph coming on for their debuts, replacing Kamara and Pedro, while Lewie Coyle replaced Drameh.

Mark Robins followed those changes with two of his own - Al-Hamadi and Wilson-Esbrand replaced by Lewis Koumas and Andrew Moran. Johansson saved again to deny McLoughlin's close-range header.

Crooks replaced Matazo with just over 20 minutes to go, or it was by the time the fourth official figured out how to press the buttons on his board.

Disaster struck for City moments later when they failed to clear a corner and off the bench, Moran turned in the back of the net after a fine first touch. The same old problems at home back to haunt the Tigers.

Nordin Amrabat replaced Gelhardt in the final moments as Selles looked to try and spark a way back into the game, but in truth, the second goal knocked the stuffing out of the hosts.

Johansson did make a couple of big saves and Slater saw a shot deflect inches wide in the final moments to deny City yet again.

Just when you think they're going to haul themselves clear, City at home, cannot get themselves going and it has to remain a huge, huge concern.

Hull City: Pandur, McLoughlin, Jones, Drameh, Jacob, Matazo, Slater, Alzate, Gelhardt, Kamara, Pedro. Subs: Lo-Tutala, Puerta, Barry, Crooks, Smith, Joseph, Amrabat, Coyle, Burstow

Stoke City: Johansson, Gooch, Stevens, Phillips, Rose, Seko, Burger, Junho, Wilson-Esbrand, Lowe, Al-Hamadi. Subs: Bonham, Tchamadeu, Gibson, Lawal, Moran, Lipsiuc, Koumas, Tezgel, Vidigal.

Referee: Will Finnie

Attendance: 21,709