City came from two down to rescue a point after a vastly improved second half showing
Oli McBurnie’s brilliant second-half brace earned Hull City a 2-2 draw against Preston North End, having overcome a disastrous opening 45-minute display which saw them two goals behind at the break.
A shambolic opening 10 minutes from City saw them 2-0 down to a Preston side who just took them apart with consummate ease, akin to taking sweets off a baby.
Thierry Small started the ball rolling with a finish across goal three minutes in before Michael Smith slotted in the net after Ivor Pandur kindly passed it straight to Ben Whiteman, but the Tigers roared back with a terr
Here’s how Tigers reporter Barry Cooper rated the players at the MKM Stadium on Tuesday night….
Ivor Pandur: Well beaten for the first and the second was a horror show. Kicked it straight to Ben Whiteman, who fed Smith to pass it straight into the back of his net. Awful goal. Good late save. 5/10
Ryan Giles: Fashioned City’s first corner, which came 18 minutes into the game. Cracking ball in after Coyle did well to win a free-kick, which caused some issues for the visitors. Teed up McBurnie for both goals with two superb balls in. 8/10
Charlie Hughes: A really tough first half for the young defender, but to his credit, was much more confident and assured in the second as City rallied. 6/10
John Egan: Under all sorts of pressure in that first, but recovered in the seocnd with a much better display. Helped by his midfield having more control. 6/10
Lewie Coyle: Scrapped like a dog down the right to win his side a free-kick which did actually cause a momentary problem. Up and down in the second. 6/10
Cody Drameh: Kept his place on the right side of midfield and, after three minutes, probably wished he hadn’t. Failed to tackle Thierry Small who fired in the opener. Rightly taken off at the break. 4/10
John Lundstram: Not in the game in the first half, but looked so much more comfortable in the second when he had Slater alongside him. Almost won it in added time with a fierce volley. 7/10
Kasey Palmer: A first start since the Blackburn defeat for the Jamaican. Didn’t start at all well. His corner after City’s first attack didn’t beat the first man and was symptomatic of a torrid opening for the team. Poor game and came off at the break .4/10
Amir Hadziahmetovic: A virtual passenger in the first half. It passed him by as if he wasn’t there and rightly taken off at the break. 4/10
Kyle Joseph: In fairness to KJ, he tried to get on the ball and hold it up, but had nothing of note to work with. Headed over early in the second from Milalr 6/10
Oli McBurnie: Completely isolated early on as his team fell apart around him. Scored the first and the second from Giles’ cross. Even fashioned a chance for Millar. Scored the equaliser from Giles’ latest assist. What a competitor. 9/10
Subs:
Liam Millar (for Drameh 46): A whole 342 days since that night against Burnley, the Canadian was back on the pitch for the second half against his former club. Created a chance quickly for Joseph and angled a shot just wide. So good to see him back. 7/10
Regan Slater (for Hadziahmetovic 46): Made a real difference in the heart of midfield. Energy, pressing and a willingness to get a tackle in. Helped Lundstram, too. 7/10
Joe Gelhardt (for Palmer 46): Brought welcome energy. Fizzed a free-kick at Iversen who turned over. Never stopped, looked a real threat. 7/10
Enis Destan (for Joseph 71): Put himself about a bit and will be better for the decent amount of time. 6/10
Akin Famewo (for Giles 83): Will have been pleased to get on the pitch in the closing stages. 6/10
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