Birthday boy Aaron Connolly hailed for ending Hull City's long wait for a home win over QPR
The Tigers had not won at home since early October and were indebted to Connolly, on loan from Brighton until the end of the season, for his contribution against admittedly lifeless opposition.
Rosenior said: “I’ve known him since he was a kid and I love him.
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Hide Ad“If he misses the first chance he’ll take the second one. His timing and movement is so good and he’s showed exactly why I wanted to bring him to the club.
“He’ll be the first to admit he’s made mistakes, but you’ve got remember that he’s just 23.
“He’s emotional at times and when he first came to the club, he was on his best behaviour. But I didn’t want that, I wanted him to be himself.
“I believe in him. He’s a natural. I think he’s a Hull City player and embodies what this club is about.”
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Hide AdHull are now one point adrift of 14th-placed QPR in the Sky Bet Championship and have lost just once under Rosenior since the mid-season World Cup break.
Connolly’s first goal after 10 minutes was largely down to good work on the right from Cyrus Christie, but he still had the composure to loop the ball over Seny Dieng.
QPR improved after the restart, but they were caught in possession after 62 minutes – with a swift counter-attack leading to Rob Dickie deflecting the ball into his own net.
Connolly then controlled a reaching Jean Michael Seri pass through the middle to put the game to bed just two minutes later.
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Hide AdRosenior said: “I’m a relieved man. It’s felt like an eternity since we won at home.
“But I think it’s been coming. Our performances at home have merited more points. To play so aggressively and on the front foot, I couldn’t be happier with the players.
“It’s been so long to celebrate a home win and it’s a moment I’ll never forget.”