Mason Burstow's stunning late winner sealed a thoroughly deserved 2-1 win for Hull City over Swansea City to hand Ruben Selles his first success as Tigers boss and lift them off the bottom of the table.

The margin of victory could, and should, have been greater for the Tigers who hit the post twice and passed up a couple of fine chances to further enhance their lead, but given their run of 13 games without a win, just getting three points was the main thing.

Selles was rightly pleased with the manner of the performance, which naturally gives him more belief that he can move City away from danger, having overseen a positive change in his first two weeks as head coach, and little time on the training pitch.

READ MORE: Angry Swansea City boss Luke Williams slams his side's Hull City display

READ MORE: Hull City rocked by injury blow as ace hands Ruben Selles major setback

Here, City reporter Barry Cooper looks back on a day full of festive cheer at the MKM Stadium...

A very Merry Christmas

The final game before Christmas could barely have gone better. A first home win since October, a first win anywhere in eighty days and having started the day bottom of the league and facing that embarrassment, they end it outside the bottom three altogether, so tight it is down there in what will be a real psychological boost for everyone connected with the club.

It's been a traumatic 2024 at the MKM Stadium with just three wins in the 23 games before that in the calendar year, but since the appointment of Selles, there's been a renewed optimism and that came to the fore in the final game before (and final one at home in 2024) Christmas, to give fans some much-needed cheer going into the festive period.

Selles' has had two games at home, he's collected four points and it's a massive step in the right direction towards making the MKM Stadium a more difficult place to come for away teams. The next two - Middlesbrough and Leeds United - to kick off 2025 will be huge tests, but at least City can go into those games feeling a little bit better about themselves, and that Christmas Day turkey will taste a little bit better.

Ruben's revolution gathers pace

Admittedly, the defeat at Coventry wasn't great, but in the two other games since Selles arrived, City have looked a totally different animal. Even against the Sky Blues, as poor as they were, his side still took the lead and looked to have a better shape and setup.

The way his team pressed with energy throughout against Swansea was a real hallmark of what the Spaniard wants to see from his side, and they created chances, looking a threat throughout.

By no means was it a perfect performance, but it was a really encouraging display from a team in the position City were and on that dreadful run. Four points from two home games is a big step in the right direction, and the challenge now is to make sure this isn't a one-off.

The scenes after the game were really good to see, the players, Ruben and his coaching staff enjoying it with the supporters who have suffered this year; and just to hear Status Quo at the end was the cherry on the top of the Christmas cake.

Mason's magic

The young striker has looked as bright as we've seen in the past few weeks since the change in manager, and it's no surprise he's bagged his second goal in the past five games. Burstow was straight into the action after coming on, having a header saved and then his pick-up from a poor kick-out showed how switched on he was, and then fired in a terrific goal.

He almost turned provider moments later when he teed up Ryan Longman to hit the post via a fine stop from the goalkeeper, and he was generally a threat after coming off the bench.

That shows increased confidence from the 21-year-old who has the power to flourish under Ruben Selles, and City certainly need him and any goals he can add.

Burstow wasn't the only one who shone on the day; Gustavo Puerta, operating in the number 8 midfield role in the absence of Kasey Palmer, delivered his best display in a Tigers shirt and, with a bit more luck, would have scored his first goal. His lovely bit of skill in the first half created the chance for himself, which he volleyed against the post. On another day, that cannons back off the goalkeeper and into the back of the net, and not over the bar as it did.

The most-relieved man in East Yorkshire is....

Regan Slater will enjoy his Christmas a little more than he would have done had City not won the game. The energetic midfielder played well against the Swans, but his gilt-edged miss from five yards at 0-0 was horrendous. Few give more to City games than Slater, but he knows failing to at least hit the target in front of goal was a big opportunity wasted. He knows he needs to add more goals to his game, and there will be few easier than that.

To his credit, he kept at it and played his part in a big victory for the Tigers, and seeing Burstow's fine effort curl into the top corner shortly followed by Thomas Bramall's full-time whistle will have brought him significant joy and relief.

A magical moment

Life-long City fan Noel Hebbs was the club's guest of honour at the MKM Stadium on Saturday, just a couple of days after he celebrated his 100th birthday.

The Centurian was greeted by Ruben Selles and given a tour of the arena, including the home dressing room, where he met skipper Lewie Coyle, along with other members of the Tigers squad and management staff, and was presented with a shirt emblazoned with his name and landmark birthday, prior to what proved out to be a memorable victory on the pitch

Off the pitch, City get so much right and are really one of the shining lights, not just in the EFL, but across the whole football community in England for the fantastic work they do, and this was another fine example of that.

Focus on Christmas

City will have a recovery day on Monday before training on Christmas Eve but will be given Christmas Day off by Ruben Selles. While some managers are keen to have players in on December 25, and that may well have been the case under the former head coach, Selles is keen to give the players some time with their families.

His squad will then meet up later on the big day, and they'll travel to Preston for their usual overnight stay ahead of the Boxing Day meeting at Deepdale, spending Christmas night together.

Selles will hope giving his players Christmas Day off will do the trick and spark an upturn in form away from the MKM Stadium and a first away victory since the win at QPR on October 1, to go with this.