Ki touch lifts Swansea and adds to gloom in Hull

Boos greeted the final whistle at the KC Stadium as Hull slipped to a damaging 1-0 defeat at home to Swansea.

Hull boss Steve Bruce had described the game as a “cup final” in the build-up but the Tigers were undone as Jonjo Shelvey’s 15th-minute strike took a wicked deflection off team-mate Ki Sung-Yueng. The result lifts Swansea to eighth and piles the pressure on Bruce, with Hull missing the opportunity to climb out of the bottom three.

A cagey opening 15 minutes or so was ended emphatically as Ki got the decisive touch to Shelvey’s driven shot, although how much he knew about it is debatable.

Allan McGregor was wrong-footed and had no chance of keeping it out. He knew little about another Shelvey effort 16 minutes later, but was relieved to see the midfielder’s strike cannon back off the inside of the post and away from danger.

Hull were struggling to break down their visitors, Andy Robertson going closest for the hosts in the first half as he hit the bar from a tight angle.

Hull huffed and puffed after the break but it was their visitors who went closest to providing the game with a second goal as Shelvey forced McGregor into a fine stop before Bafetimbi Gomis helped turn a Marvin Emnes cross against the post.

4’ – CHANCE FOR HULL: Nikica Jelavic has the game’s first opportunity, but screws horribly wide of the near post with the outside of his right foot.

15’ – GOAL FOR SWANSEA! Shelvey takes aim from 20 yards, hitting team-mate Ki, with the ball diverted into the opposite side of the goal and past a despairing McGregor.

22’ – CHANCE FOR HULL: Hernandez holds up the ball in the area, allowing the impressive Robertson to run onto the ball and plant a fierce drive against the bar.

31’ – SHELVEY ALMOST MAKES IT TWO: The midfielder fires a rasping strike against the foot of the post that just avoids hitting McGregor as it spins away from goal.

55' - CHANCE FOR SWANSEA: Tom Carroll rolls the ball across the box for Shelvey, whose first-time shot is brilliantly kept out by McGregor.

74' - SWANS HIT THE POST: Substitute Emnes crosses for Gomis who helps turn the ball onto the foot of the post.

90+5' - PENALTY APPEAL FOR HULL: Late drama at the KC Stadium as Yannick Sagbo goes down in the area, but referee Mark Clattenburg rightly waves play on.

Hull have now gone 10 league games without a win, the first time that has happened since February 2010.

The Tigers have now failed to score in seven of their last nine games.

Swansea's win was their first against Hull for seven games in all competitions, dating back to a 2-0 win on December 19, 1998.

Victory was also the Swans' first away win in the league since their opening day win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Where now for Hull boss Steve Bruce? The hosts rarely looked like getting back into the game once going behind and the fact their most potent player was their left-back, Andy Robertson, speaks volumes. Bruce will be given time to turn things around but the lack of a cutting edge up front is there for all to see. Abel Hernandez has not kicked on since a promising start, while Bruce turned to Sagbo late in the game with little reward. The injury to Mohamed Diame grows more and more damaging by the week and the club's chances of survival could rest with getting the midfielder fit.

Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea): The former Liverpool man was everywhere in midfield and ultimately took the shot that gave his side victory. He was denied a second by a post before McGregor pulled off a world class save to deny him after the break. Ki was also impressive, and considering Garry Monk was forced into making seven changes, the signs are positive for the Swans.

Hull: McGregor 7, Elmohamady 6, Chester 5, Bruce 5, Davies 5, Robertson 7, Meyler 5, Livermore 6, Ramirez 6, Hernandez 5, Jelavic 4 Subs: Aluko 6, Maguire 6, Sagbo 5

Swansea: Fabianski 7, Richards 6, Fernandez 7, Williams 7, Taylor 6, Ki 8, Carroll 7, Dyer 6, Shelvey 8, Routledge 7, Gomis 6 Subs: Emnes 6, Bony 6, Rangel 6.