Match ends, Bristol City 1, Hull City 2.
Hull City reached the EFL Cup quarter-finals for the second successive season with a nervy win at Championship side Bristol City.
Defender Harry Maguire headed the Premier League team ahead when he met Ryan Mason's corner at the far post.
Michael Dawson added the second just 68 seconds after half-time, powerfully heading in another Mason corner.
Lee Tomlin pulled one back before team-mate Tammy Abraham's shot was cleared off the line in the final seconds.
City, who improved considerably after the break, also had two penalty appeals turned down in the second half.
But an equaliser proved beyond them on their first appearance in the last 16 of the League Cup since 1988-89.
The Tigers had lost all four league games since winning at Stoke in the previous round of the competition, but took control as City failed to defend two simple set-pieces either side of the break.
Leading scorer Abraham, who has scored 11 goals since arriving on a season-long loan from Chelsea, started on the bench and his 60th-minute arrival finally brought the Robins to life.
Tomlin drove forward and fired in an angled shot to set up a tense finale, but the home side were denied extra-time when some last-ditch Hull defending stopped England Under-21 striker Abraham.
Relive Tuesday's EFL Cup action
Hull manager Mike Phelan:
"It has been quite gloomy when you're getting beaten week in and week out.
"But you can see in the dressing room that a win's a win and it does mean a lot.
"It gives you confidence to start again, because we all know the Premier League is unforgiving at times. We showed that we can win football matches again so let's move forward."
Bristol City boss Lee Johnson:
"I am very proud. We competed really strongly with a young group against a side that got promoted and the last five or 10 minutes we had them completely on the back foot.
"If you take the set-pieces out of it - and they are very big and physically strong in their upper bodies - I thought we outplayed a really good side.
"Although I am disappointed not to have won the game and be in the next round, I think it showed the club in such a good light moving forward."
Line-ups
Bristol City
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 12O'Donnell
- 2Little
- 4FlintBooked at 65mins
- 17MooreBooked at 67mins
- 13Golbourne
- 21Pack
- 14ReidBooked at 48mins
- 11O'Dowda
- 16EngvallSubstituted forMcCoulskyat 76'minutes
- 3BryanBooked at 40minsSubstituted forAbrahamat 60'minutes
- 18WilbrahamSubstituted forTomlinat 59'minutes
Substitutes
- 6O'Neil
- 8Brownhill
- 9Abraham
- 10Tomlin
- 23Magnusson
- 28McCoulsky
- 29Lucic
Hull
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 16Jakupovic
- 5Maguire
- 21Dawson
- 6DaviesBooked at 45mins
- 27El Mohamady
- 14Livermore
- 25MasonSubstituted forHuddlestoneat 79'minutes
- 28Tymon
- 22Henriksen
- 20Diomande
- 9HernándezSubstituted forMeylerat 89'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Meyler
- 8Huddlestone
- 11Clucas
- 12Kuciak
- 15Maloney
- 17Weir
- 29Bowen
- Referee:
- Keith Stroud
- Attendance:
- 16,149
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home20
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away4
- Corners
- Home8
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away6
Live Text
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Post update
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Bristol City 1, Hull City 2.
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Post update
Attempt saved. Tammy Abraham (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Post update
Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Eldin Jakupovic.
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Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Michael Dawson.
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Goal!
Goal! Bristol City 1, Hull City 2. Lee Tomlin (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
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Hand ball by Tammy Abraham (Bristol City).
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Taylor Moore (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Adama Diomande (Hull City).
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Substitution
Substitution, Hull City. David Meyler replaces Abel Hernández.
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Attempt missed. Marlon Pack (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
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Attempt missed. Aden Flint (Bristol City) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
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Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Michael Dawson.
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Post update
Attempt blocked. Tammy Abraham (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Mark Little (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Josh Tymon (Hull City).
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Attempt saved. Abel Hernández (Hull City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the top right corner.
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Post update
Attempt saved. Tammy Abraham (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Post update
Attempt saved. Lee Tomlin (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Substitution
Substitution, Hull City. Tom Huddlestone replaces Ryan Mason.