Hull City 4-1 Rotherham United: Jaden Philogene double helps return Tigers to play-off places

Hull City moved back into the Championship play-off places by blowing away relegation-haunted Rotherham at the MKM Stadium.

Philogene made it six goals in his past seven games with his second of the night shortly into the second half as the East Yorkshire outfit eased to their fourth win in six and stayed in the hunt for the top six.

Grant Hall headed in a consolation goal but the continuation of the managerless Millers’ dreadful away form – they have now lost eight and drawn one of their nine away games in the league, shipping 21 goals along the way – means they stay four points adrift of safety in 23rd.

Hull had won their two previous home games and were unbeaten against Rotherham at home since 1996, and those runs never looked like coming to an end once Morton had tapped them ahead after five minutes.

The Liverpool loanee scored his first senior goal to earn the Tigers a point at Swansea on Saturday, and when Liam Delap was brought down by Rotherham goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, Morton saved referee Rebecca Welch from having to make a penalty decision by turning in the loose ball.

Four minutes later Hull were two goals ahead. With Delap making a nuisance of himself in the box, Jason Lokilo’s cross bounced off defender Dexter Lembikisa and fell to England Under-21 international Philogene, who, with his back to goal, cleverly backheeled the ball into the far corner.

When Delap teed up Morton for another shot Johansson could only parry the ball as far as Twine, and the Burnley loanee had a simple finish for his first goal for the club.

Hull were rampant, with Jacob Greaves slaloming through the visiting defence only to be denied by Johansson, but any doubts about the outcome were ended three minutes into the second half.

Hull carved the Millers open as Jean Michael Seri freed Lokilo on the right. His cross rebounded to Twine, and when his shot was saved by Johansson, Philogene snapped up the chance to score his second.

The home side moved down a gear as manager Liam Rosenior rested key players but not before Rotherham had pulled a goal back near to the hour mark. Oliver Rathbone and substitute Arvin Appiah worked a short corner, Sean Morrison headed on, and Hall nodded in at the far post.

Hull were close to a fifth as the superb Johansson beat away Delap’s powerful header and substitute Ozan Tufan fired wide from a great chance.

Hull City manager Liam Rosenior said:

“The ruthlessness was there. We had that end product and some of our football was a joy to watch.

“We are showing real quality at the moment. The players are enjoying being at this club and I’m loving working with them.

“I was furious [with Rotherham’s goal] as I’m a defender by trade and at heart but because we were in such a comfortable position, those moments don’t hurt you as much.”

“What Jaden [Philogene] is showing is moments of absolute quality but it’s not about just one individual, it’s about the group. And, as a group, our performance was just outstanding.”

Rotherham caretaker manager Wayne Carlisle said:

“It’s about trying to give them the confidence and energy to get them moving again. At home we have energy and do go after teams, but away from home we don’t seem to be able to back it up.

“I didn’t think they lost heart but when you shoot yourselves in the foot as early as we did it’s easy to get a bit frantic. The energy levels just didn’t seem to be there and we didn’t get up to speed quickly enough.

“[The away form] is obviously an elephant in the room and we’ll try to address it but I don’t know what’s going through their heads.”

[On the manager vacancy]: “I’m waiting to hear [from chairman Tony Stewart]. Obviously with games coming in quick succession, there hasn’t been too many discussions.

“I imagine the phone will probably ring either [Tuesday evening or Wednesday] and we’ll have a phone call.”