Xavier Simons rocket not enough to seal Hull City win at Derby County

For the second successive Championship game, Xavier Simons gave Hull City a one-goal lead but they were unable to hold on, and just as they did on Wednesday night, the Tigers conceded to be held to a 1-1 draw, this time at Derby County.

City hit the front just before the hour when Mohamed Belloumi teed up Simons to rattle in a fierce drive from the edge of the box to reward their dominant start to the second period, but that was cancelled out within nine minutes when Dajaune Brown came off the bench to loop a header over Ivor Pandur, who had got himself in a poor position.

The Tigers will again be frustrated at their inability to hold onto a precious lead, again given to them by the in-form Simons, who has bagged two goals in his last two games, though at Pride Park, where Derby are usually so strong, they may view this as a useful point.

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Walter was unable to call upon Liam Millar through the knee injury, which saw him leave Wednesday's draw with Burnley after just five minutes, with Abu Kamara coming back into the starting XI, while Chris Bedia returned to the side at the expense of Joao Pedro who dropped to the bench, where there was a return to the fold for Will Jarvis as the Tigers boss made two changes from midweek.

A positive opening 10 minutes from the Tigers was almost undone in chaotic fashion when a Tigers corner was cleared by the Rams, only for Pandur to come careering out towards the halfway line, missing the ball, and Slater managed to head away yards inside the City half, and they were able to avert catastrophe.

City, without fashioning any attempts, were seeing plenty of the ball but Bedia was unable to get the better of Curtis Nelson, who saw him off with a degree of ease, while the Rams' best attempt early on came when Mendez-Laing slipped past Coyle down the left, deep into the box but could only pick out the gloves of Pandur at the near post.

It took the best part of 20 minutes for either side to fashion an attempt on target, but it did come from the Tigers, who were much the better, and more fluid outfit, with Belloumi fizzing a low effort at Jacob Widell Zetterstrom from 20 yards out, but their final ball continued to let them down when they got into some really promising positions.

Having offered little in the first 25 minutes, the Rams grew in confidence and enjoyed a flurry of corners which caused problems, with Pandur diverting a Kane Wilson header away from danger. His terrible kick-out then allowed the Rams to come again, but Slater helped him out.

Somewhat against the run of play, the Tigers broke, and Kamara, in on goal, blazed over the bar from 12 yards out when he should have done much, much better with that rare sight of goal.

Walter will have been frustrated with the lack of potency from his side, having started brightly, fell away towards the end of the first half and lost their way.

The City boss made a double change at the break, with Kasey Palmer coming on against his former club along with Abdus Omur, in place of Slater and Puerta, and that saw the second half start just like the first with the Tigers dominating, but this time, they were able to make it count.

After Kamara saw a cross blocked away by the goalkeeper, they kept the pressure on and from the edge of the box, Simons rattled in a terrific strike to make it two in two for him, and set nearly 3,000 away fans wild in the far corner.

Warne made a triple change with Yates replaced by Dajaune Brown. Mendez-Laing replaced Corey Blackett-Taylor and Goudmijn was replaced by Benny Osborn.

Derby came close to making it 1-1 within minutes when there was a terrific block at the near post to deny Nelson, who then slammed across goal and away to safety, as Paul Warne's men tried to respond. Walter then made another change, with Joao Pedro replacing Bedia three minutes after the hour, but the goal did come moments later when Brown looped a terrific header over Pandur and into the back of the net, the lead lasted less than 10 minutes.

The City stopper threatened to come for a free-kick, went back, and because he was off his line, was caught out of possession as the Derby substitute beat Jones to the cross.

Simons and Hughes were then both booked by referee Tom Nield for late challenges as the Rams looked to try and fashion a winning goal, and in a bid to do the same at the other end, Walters sent on Mason Burstow for Belloumi with nine minutes left.

In the closing stages, Kamara went down inside the box amid a tussle. City appealed, Walter in particular, but Kamara was up quickly to try and win the ball back; it probably would have been soft. Goalscorer Brown was unable to continue and was replaced by Nat Phillips, with Liam Thompson coming on for Harness.

City pushed for a winner in stoppage time, but also needed Pandur to claim a deep cross after Pedro was booked for a silly foul. Back-to-back draws for the Tigers after successive defeats, and a positive showing on the road, but they'll think this was two points dropped.

Derby County: Zetterstrom, Wilson, Forysth, Cashin, Yates, Mendez-Laing (c), Goudmijn, Harness, Jackson, Adams, Nelson. Subs: Vickers (GK), Bradley, Osborn, Collins, Phillips, Thompson, Elder, Blackett-Taylor, Brown.

Hull City: Pandur, Drameh, Hughes, Jones, Coyle (c), Puerta, Simons, Belloumi, Slater, Kamara, Bedia. Subs: Racioppi, Giles, McLoughlin, Omur, Pedro, Zambrano, Jarvis, Palmer, Burstow.

Referee: Tom Nield

Attendance: 29,877