The Tigers came from two down to earn a point after first half horror show
A stunning second-half turnaround from Hull City saw them recover from two goals down against Preston to grab a point courtesy of Oli McBurnie’s terrific brace in a 2-2 draw.
Two goals in the opening 10 minutes gave in-form Preston the perfect start and once again the Tigers’ defending was embarrassing and all of their own making, but their turnaround was spectacular with a McBurnie brace dragging them level from two Ryan Giles crosses.
It took just three minutes for City’s non-existent defence to be breached. After failing to mark from a free-kick, the resulting corner found Thierry Small, who saw off Cody Drameh’s tepid attempt at a challenge to fire across goal and into the far corner. That set the tone for a shambolic first period.
It was the worst possible start for City, in what was a bizarrely flat atmosphere at the MKM Stadium, and minutes later it was 2-0 when Ivor Pandur’s awful kick out went straight to Ben Whiteman, who passed freely to Michael Smith to angle in the corner with the goalkeeper rooted.
Jakirovic had made one change to the side beaten at Watford on Saturday, with Kasey Palmer coming in for Joe Gelhardt, who dropped to the bench, where he was joined by the fit-again Semi Ajayi after his long lay-off, but that change had little impact and perhaps his decision to keep faith with Drameh on the right flank backfired.
It was probably the worst ten-minute display by a City side for some time, and given what happened last year, that’s quite some accolade. If ever a first 18 minutes was summed up, Kasey Palmer’s corner hit the first man and was hammered away. That came after the Tigers’ first attack.
The boos that greeted the players at half-time were entirely justified, but Jakirovic made changes at the break to try and get back into it, and they worked in some style. It was like watching two different teams.
Liam Millar, Regan Slater and Joe Gelhardt were all on for Palmer, Amir and Drameh, and immediately there was a reaction. Millar’s return after 342 days lifted the crowd, and Millar was straight into the action. Millar’s mazy run and cross picked out Joseph to head over at the back post.
Moments later, City were back in it when Giles found McBurnie inside the box and he calmly slotted past Daniel Iversen to reduce the arrears. Gelhardt then fizzed in a free-kick, which Iversen turned over.
City were a team transformed. McBurnie’s incredible determination to keep the ball in deep in the Preston half saw him feed Millar to angle just wide of the far post via a deflection as the home side continued to pour forward.
Enis Destan was brought on after a double PNE change with 19 minutes to go, moments after Alfie Devine fluffed a chance to surely kill it off.
The hosts pulled deservedly level with 16 minutes to go, Giles on the overlap raced into the box and crossed again for McBurnie to slam in from close range. That combination again caused the damage, and the hosts were on terms, Preston shell-shocked. Giles couldn’t carry on in the closing stages and was replaced by Akin Famewo.
Lundstram’s rasping volley deep into added time almost won it but for Iversen’s flying save. It might not have been three points, but the manner of the comeback after that first half horrow show was impressive, and now attention turns to Sheffield United on Saturday.
Hull City (4-2-3-1): Pandur, Giles (Famewo, 83), Hughes, Egan, Coyle (c), Lundstram, Hadziahmetovic (Slater 46), Drameh (Millar 46), Joseph (Destan 73, Palmer (Gelhardt 46), McBurnie. Subs: Phillips, Ajayi, Millar, Akintola, Gelhardt, Famewo, Gyabi, Slater, Destan.
Preston North End (3-5-2): Iversen; Storey, Lindsay, Gibson, Small, Whiteman (c), Armstrong (Frokjaer-Jensen 81), Vukcevic (Offiah 90), Devine (McCann 70), Smith (Jebbison 70), Osmajic. Subs: Walton, Offiah, McCann, Thordarson, Carroll, Frokjaer, Dobbin, Jebbison, Gryba.
Referee: Josh Smith
Man of the Match: Oli McBurnie
Attendance: 18,624 (around 400 from Preston)
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