Hull 2-1 Southampton: Michael Dawson and Robert Snodgrass clinch a first league victory since August

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Robert Snodgrass emerged from the bench to transform Hull’s fortunes and inspire a first win since August.

In scoring the equaliser and providing the delivery for captain Michael Dawson’ s winner during a heady two-minute spell just after the hour, Snodgrass reaffirmed himself as Hull’s talisman in the fight against relegation while also proving himself ready for Scotland’s World Cup qualifier at Wembley.

Hull’s top scorer was not deemed fit enough to start against Europa League challengers Southampton following an ankle problem, but two freakish injuries forced manager Mike Phelan’s hand with just a quarter of the contest gone as forwards Abel Hernandez and Will Keane hobbled off with groin and knee problems.

Hull City's Michael Dawson is mobbed by his team-mates having headed the hosts into a second half lead on Sunday

Robert Snodgrass (right) had whipped in this finish to equalise for Mike Phelan's side in the Premier League clash

Snodgrass wields away in celebration after his well taken strike restored parity with Southampton on Sunday

Southampton striker Charlie Austin is all smiles as he celebrates the opening goal for the away side on Sunday

The striker keeps his head down as Austin strikes his penalty in to send Southampton into a sixth minute lead 

MATCH FACTS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE FROM KCOM STADIUM

Hull (3-5-2): Marshall 7; Dawson 7, Maguire 6 (Huddlestone 74mins), Davies 6; Elmohamady 6, Henriksen 6, Livermore 7, Mason 6, Clucas 7; Keane 5 (Snodgrass 29mins, 7) Hernandez 4 (Mbokani 8mins, 5)

Subs: Jakupovic, Meyler, Tymon, Bowen.

Scorers: Snodgrass 61, Dawson 63 

Southampton (4-2-3-1): Forster 6; Yoshida 6, Fonte 6, Van Dijk 6, Bertrand 6; *Clasie 7 (Ward-Prowse 79), Romeu 6; Tadic 7 (Boufal 66, 6), Davis 6, Redmond 6 (Rodriguez 79); Austin 7

Subs: Taylor, Martina, Hojbjerg, McQueen

Scorer: Austin pen 6 

Booked: Tadic, Clasie, Bertrand, Romeu, Yoshida

Referee: Graham Scott 5 (Oxfordshire)

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CLICK HERE for more from our brilliant match zone including heat maps, stats and graphics. This is how Robert Snodgrass equalised for Hull in the second half.

‘Most clubs have two or three players who can produce something that’s a bit different. He’s one of them,’ said a beaming Phelan, following his first victory since being appointed as permanent boss.

‘At the start of the game he wasn’t ready. Thirty minutes would have been reasonable for him but he managed to find what’s required and showed his quality.’

Hull had not yet troubled Fraser Forster when Sam Clucas created their equaliser with a piece of opportunism from a throw-in.

Working a one-two with Mason on the left, he surged to the byline and delivered a low cross to which the unmarked Snodgrass applied a clinical finish.

The players observe a minutes silence as part of Remembrance commemorations before the match on Sunday afternoon

Here is the challenge from Curtis Davies (left) which saw Maya Yoshida tumbling down for a penalty on six minutes

Then, with Southampton shocked that their well-deserved advantage had been erased, Snodgrass arrowed a free-kick into their penalty area that Dawson glanced into the top corner.

It was the second week running that Dawson had contributed the winning goal, only this time it was at the right end from Hull’s point of view, following the gift given to Watford eight days earlier.

Yet they lost their record of not losing after European engagements against a backdrop of apathy as Hull registered a new low top-flight crowd for the second Premier League match in succession. 

Hull manager Mike Phelan also lost striker Abel Hernandez to injury within the first half an hour of action

Hull City's Will Keane (left) had to leave the pitch having injured his knee at the KCOM Stadium against Southampton

Ryan Mason of Hull City and Oriol Romeu of Southampton in action during the Premier League encounter 

Other than the obligatory chants against the Allam family ownership, there was little animation from the sparsely populated stands until a knee-high, studs-up challenge by Dusan Tadic on Ryan Mason that could easily have resulted in a red rather than yellow card.

They were roused again after the break by Snodgrass’s opener, 10 minutes after Virgil van Dijk looped a header on to the crossbar.

With something to hang on to, a Hull defence that shipped 20 goals in its previous six league outings remained unbreached.

Southampton's Maya Yoshida (left) battles for the ball with Hull City's Dieumerci Mbokani at the KCOM Stadium

hmed Elmohamady of Hull City (right) attempts to steal possession from Southampton's striker Charlie Austin

Hull's captain Dawson grabs a quick drink from his manager Mike Phelan during a break in play on Sunday afternoon

Austin was twice denied by splendid Marshall saves and Clucas cleared off the line to add Hull’s name to those of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, the only sides to beat Puel’s Southampton.

‘When you win a game like Inter and you come back to the league against a team with good preparation, with one game a week, it’s important to keep concentration and a good attitude,’ said Puel.

‘But it is always difficult and I think we learn for the future.’

Southampton midfielder Dusan Tadic (right) is chased down by Sam Clucas as the Saints build another attack

Hull midfielder Ryan Mason (right) reacts having felt the full force of Southampton midfielder Jordy Clasie's tackle

Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster fails to keep out Snodgrass' second half strike at the KCOM Stadium

Markus Henriksen (left) attempts to keep up with the pace set by Southampton's Nathan Redmond 

It was quite a duel in the air for the ball as a corner was swung in at the KCOM Stadium during the Premier League clash

Goal scorers Dawson and Snodgrass are congratulated by team-mate and Hull goalkeeper David Marshall (right)

Hull manager Mike Phelan (centre) is all smiles at the final whistle with his midfielder Jake Livermore