Hull City 2-1 Stoke City: Jarrod Bowen double sees off Michael O'Neill's 'fragile' Potters
- Published
Jarrod Bowen has now scored 10 goals in his past nine appearances
Michael O'Neill hinted at a January clearout at struggling Stoke after Jarrod Bowen's double left his "fragile" Potters four points from safety.
Sam Vokes' early header put Stoke ahead but Bowen scored twice in the second half to take his season's tally to 15 as Hull came from behind to register a fifth win in eight games.
Northern Ireland boss O'Neill won his first two games with Stoke after agreeing terms to succeed Nathan Jones in November but has now suffered three consecutive defeats.
"We have to look at where we are personnel-wise because we need to find the right types of characters and the right types of players to get us out of the situation we are in," he told BBC Radio Stoke.
"We've got to find a desire to win, a desire to play, as simple as that. We've got to find a little bit of resilience, we certainly didn't have that today,
"When we go behind, we play with a lot of anxiety. When we go in front, we don't have the belief to go and push forward. Ultimately, we look fragile as a team."
Michael O'Neill's previous club management experience was with Brechin City
Stoke failed to build on the lead earned by Wales striker Vokes and England goalkeeper Jack Butland was forced to deny Kamil Grosicki and Bowen to preserve the visitors' advantage before the break.
Two goals in seven second-half minutes from Hull talisman Bowen, however, set the hosts up for a deserved victory.
"We got a good bounce when I came in. We won two games and subsequently lost the next three. That's a pattern that's been here since before I arrived," added O'Neill.
"The performance was probably as poor as it's been since I've been here - overall, we were second best.
"We have a big squad of players - too many players. I'd prefer to have a leaner, hungrier squad of players than what we have.
"That's something we'll have to address - but that's something we can't address until January."
Supporters at the KCOM Stadium united for a poignant moment of remembrance in the second minute, standing to applaud in tribute to Stoke striker Benik Afobe's daughter Amora, who recently died at the age of two.
A fine James McClean cross from the left soon after set Vokes up for the opening goal, with his cushioned header beating Hull goalkeeper George Long.
The hosts pressed for an equaliser, Grosicki and Bowen testing England keeper Butland while Jordy de Wijs sent a header over the bar.
But Bowen was irrepressible after the interval, levelling with a fine low shot into the bottom corner before netting his decisive second from point-blank range after Butland parried a header from Jackson Irvine into the forward's path.
Hull boss Grant McCann:
"They were two great goals from Jarrod, but I thought it was more about the team.
"The team performance was excellent. We conceded early off a good goal - you have to put your hands up as it was a good cross and a good header.
"But we didn't panic. I thought we were controlled. After the first 10 minutes we showed a real control and composure about our game - we didn't get flustered.
"That will give us a wee bit more belief and confidence. I thought we got into some really dangerous areas - we're looking a lot more dangerous. I think we deserved it, really."
