It was a dramatic finish in North Wales in the Carabao Cup first round
Hull City were dumped out of the Carabao Cup yet again at the first round stage, having thrown away a commanding 3-1 lead going into added time to draw 3-3 before losing on penalty kicks. Despite a dominant opening, the hosts came back into the game and were in front when Elliott Lee’s shot deflected past debutant Dillon Phillips just after the half-hour mark.
City were level five minutes after falling behind when Cody Drameh surged forward before playing out to Joe Gelhardt and getting the return to cross for McBurnie to poke home at the near post. Matt Crooks made it 3-1 with nine minutes to go and City were coasting to victory, before Ollie Palmer scored two headers inside a minute in stoppage time to send it to penalties, with the hosts winning 5-3.
Here’s how Tigers reporter Barry Cooper rated the players in North Wales on Tuesday evening…
Dillon Phillips: A Tigers debut for the summer arrival, and made a smart save after 19 quiet minutes. Could do little about the goal which deflected up and over him. Didn’t have a huge amount to do before conceding twice in stoppage time. Couldn’t get near a penalty kick. 5/10
Ryan Giles: Bombed up and down the left side well and delivered a couple of fine crosses early on. Another good step on his road back to full fitness. Made no mistake in the shootout 7/10
Charlie Hughes: Booked for some apparent time-wasting in the first period amid his usual display of raw energy and determination. Will be raging about the stoppage time collapse. 7/10
John Egan: Won’t be happy about how the first goal was conceded, but looked good in the first half that moment aside. 7/10
Cody Drameh: Didn’t cover himself in glory with their opener but his dynamic burst forward and cross created the equaliser, and was decent on the night. 7/10
Regan Slater: Knocked it about well early on, but will be disappointed with his role in the opener. Good engine as you’d expect from Slater. 6/10
John Lundstram: Kept the ball moving well early on, always there to get hold of it and keep things ticking over. Just a really solid, calm performance. 7/10
Kasey Palmer: Looked bright in the first period, and came close to pulling the trigger after a mazy run. Fashioned the third for City with a terrific cross and one he didn’t give up on. Slotted in his spot-kick. 7/10
Nathan Tinsdale: The midfielder made his full senior debut at The Racecourse. Gave it away cheaply before the opening goal, but grew into the contest. Showed glimpses and he can be happy with a solid showing away from home. 7/10
Joe Gelhardt: A second full debut for Gelhardt fresh from coming off the bench on Saturday; could have done better in tracking back for the first Wrexham goal, but was involved in the equaliser. Booked in the second period for a foul on McClean. Teed up Ndala for the second Tigers’ goal. 7/10
Oliver McBurnie: A first start for City after his cameo off the bench at Coventry, and came close to scoring after 20 minutes having forced a good save from the goalkeeper. Got off the mark with a fine near-post finish. Involved in everything, led the line so well. 8/10
Subs:
Joel Ndala (for Tinsdale 62): Scored the second for City when he kept up with the attack and slotted in Gelhardt’s cross at the back post. Missed the crucial kick in the shoot-out. 7/10
Matt Crooks (for Slater 62): Got on the score sheet late on to seal a deserved victory when he tapped in at the back post from Palmer’s cross. 7/10
Abu Kamara (for Gelhardt 75): Came close to making it 4-1 with a shot that just went wide, though the flag was up. Netted his penalty. 6/10
Kyle Joseph (for McBurnie 75): Didn’t really get much of a look in, but not short on good running and trying to occupy defenders. 6/10
Akin Famewo (for Egan 79): Won’t be too impressed at the way Palmer scored two headers to salvage the game. 6/10
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