It might have gone down to the final minutes of the season, but Hull City finally secured their Championship after what at times felt like a 46-game slow and painful death.
Their 1-1 draw at Portsmouth on Saturday was just enough to ensure they will begin life in the second tier when Championship football returns for business in early August, while Luton Town suffer the humiliation of a second straight relegation.
As is now customary with City, there’s rarely been a quiet moment throughout a season that has tested the patience of even the most laid-back Tigers supporter.
And here, after watching all 48 league and cup games from press boxes up and down the country, City reporter Barry Cooper reflects on the campaign that was….
Moment to remember
It’s hard to look past Charlie Hughes’ stunning header in the 94th minute at Hillsborough on April 5. A wholly forgettable Yorkshire derby looked to be heading for a bore draw until Lincoln stepped off the bench to curl in a free-kick which was met by the defender as he angled an unstoppable header across goal and in off the bar.
That header, in front of 3,000 City fans behind the Leppings Lane goal was a sensational moment in the Spring sunshine, and not only did it give Tigers fans bragging rights against the Owls, it handed them a huge boost in their quest to survive.
It was genuinely one of those moments that make football so special. It’s the reason we all love it so much. We all live for those moments, and it goes some way to make up for the grim, boring, difficult moments that fans have to suffer.
Moment to remember #2
Charlie Hughes’ header in the Steel City is the purest footballing moment of the season, but it would be wrong not to include the final day celebrations. Once referee John Busby gave three puffs on his whistle, the feeling of emotion came flooding out. There were huge roars and embraces amongst the City press pack, in the directors’ box, on the touchline, pitch and terraces. The cries of relief on the South Coast would have been heard back in East Yorkshire, such was the importance of that moment.
It’s been a desperately poor season. So many things have gone wrong, but out of darkness always comes light and for those City supporters in the Milton End of Fratton Park, the relief was palpable, and those memories will remain with them for a long time.
Yes, it wasn’t celebrating a promotion or league title, but for Hull City, staying in the Championship was every bit as important as anything they’ve achieved in recent seasons, and to do so in the sunshine at Fratton Park was a fitting end.
Game of the season
In terms of a pure spectacle, you’d probably have to say the 3-3 draw with Leeds United. Abu Kamara, after a difficult week in the build-up to the game, delivered a stunning lob over Illan Meslier after just five minutes to put City in front. The Tigers led until half-time but fell apart in the second half and looked to be heading for another home defeat to the Whites, before a late salvation act.
Joao Pedro turned in after another Meslier howler before Kamara fired in a terrific volley in stoppage time to earn a 3-3 draw against the league leaders.
In a season of few moments to remember at the MKM Stadium, that start and finish was something special and is arguably the contest of the campaign. Looking back now, how crucial that point turned out to be.
Result of the season
Taking into account league positions and unbeaten home records, the thrilling 3-0 success at Sheffield United in late January wins the prize for standout result.
United hadn’t lost a league game at Bramall Lane, and City were toiling at the wrong end of the table, so few expected them to get anything, let alone go and win 3-0. Matt Crooks set the fireworks off early on before Matty Jacob made it 2-0 in the second half, and then Joao Pedro forced an own goal in the closing stages, again in front of a big away following.
That result proved just how capable City were under Selles and gave them renewed belief that they were capable of making a fist of their battle to escape. The frustration was that they never really hit those heights again, and certainly didn’t build on it, losing at Cardiff City a few days later.
Stand-out performer
Naturally, when a team struggles at the bottom end of the division all season, all manner of things have gone wrong and for City that was most certainly the case. Poor decisions from the top, coupled with poor performances on the field.
If the players looked hard enough in the mirror, the majority would have to accept they’ve not performed at a high enough level on a consistent basis. As a group, they’ve been flaky. For every good result, a poor one has followed, usually with a poor performance.
Ivor Pandur has had a fine season and is arguably the club’s most consistent performer. Given the setbacks he’s had since joining the club, the Croatian has been a real bright spot. It’s not been all plain sailing. That point was proven by the awful goal he conceded at Fratton Park, but he’s earned his side an awful lot of points.
That first 10 minutes at Loftus Road back on October 1 springs to mind. But for him, City would have been at least three, possibly four down in the opening 10 minutes before going on to win the game 3-1. The only time in the whole season that the Tigers won successive games.
Closely following Pandur would be Charlie Hughes. Despite suffering some injury setbacks, the youngster has grown into Championship football in what’s been a challenging campaign for everyone. Alongside John Egan, he’s looked especially assured. Special mention to Sean McLoughlin, who played half a season at left-back and did an outstanding job, playing out of position against some very good wingers.
Biggest let-off
That has to be Saturday’s final day. City were brilliant for most of the first half and deservedly took the lead when Matt Crooks timed his run to perfection and turned Gustavo Puerta’s corner. Joe Gelhardt and Joao Pedro had gilt-edged chances to kill the game off, but they were punished when Christian Saydee slammed in the equaliser. A microcosm of the season encapsulated in 90 minutes.
It was yet another goal that came inside the opening 10 minutes of the second half and threatened to be damaging. Luckily for Ruben Selles and his players, Luton Town were being thrashed at West Brom. So, as long as City didn’t concede, they would be safe, and that’s how it played out.
Staying up on goal difference alone, having been the lowest scorers in the division, is a mildly impressive achievement in a weird kind of way, but a huge let-off by anyone’s standards.
Low point of the campaign
In all honesty, there have been a few. The realisation at Reading in pre-season that this was going to be a real struggle. Seeing Mo Belloumi and Liam Millar do their ACLs in quick succession, getting thumped 4-0 at Norwich City, the defeats against Stoke, Cardiff and especially Luton. The one stand-out has to be Derby, however. In a game they could not lose, to concede such a bad goal six minutes from time was a hammer blow.
It left City in the bottom three with one game to go. Yes, the Tigers ultimately escaped, but heading home after that was tough because League One was a very real prospect at that point. The closest it had been all season.
Winning that game would have meant safety and given the players and their families a chance to show their appreciation for the fans’ support this season. Alas, it was not to be.
The best food
Allow me to throw this one in. The overall standard of press box food has fallen massively this season (poor you, I hear you moan). Special mentions to Middlesbrough, Norwich City and Swansea City for their excellent grub; however, there’s one stand-out winner. Hull City.
Whether it be the tandoori skewers, chicken gyros, butter chicken or doner kebab, City’s food (applauds Henry Crane and his team) is by far and away the best in the Championship. The only problem is, they’ve removed the post-match brownie = one less star on TripAdvisor.
Also, I can’t mention food at City without a word for Karim, the first team chef, who often looks after us at the training ground. The Tigers are blessed, and we need to acknowledge it.
What’s next?
There are some big, big decisions to be made in the coming days off the pitch at City. The positive thing being is those decisions, whatever they end up looking like, will be made as a Championship football club, and that’s the most important thing.
Relegation would have been devastating for this football club, so now, it has the chance to learn from a plethora of errors and move forward, better for this experience.
What’s your moment of the season? Have your say in the comments below…