The on-loan Manchester United starlet caught the eye against the Tigers on his first league start
Victor Torp of Coventry City is challenged by Toby Collyer of Hull City(Image: Getty Images)
Hull City delivered a really positive performance to draw 0-0 with leaders Coventry City on Monday night, to end the Easter weekend unbeaten with successive draws.
City were good value for their second goalless draw against Frank Lampard’s men this season, and could have gone in front early amid what was a blistering start.
At the other end, an organised, disciplined display limited the league’s top scorers to just one effort on target, which came in the first half.
It’s a result which keeps City firmly entrenched inside the top six, and with their destiny remaining in their own hands with just five games of this enthralling season to go.
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A fine display
Sergej Jakirovic might be more concerned with results at this stage of the season, but he must be proud of what was a really good performance.
His side from the get-go were on the front foot, created some good openings and with a better final ball, perhaps could have won the game.
When they needed to be organised and resolute at the back, they were exactly that. Football’s a funny old game, to think one of the league’s leakiest defences has twice kept clean sheets against the Sky Blues this season. Getting a standing ovation after drawing 0-0 shows what the crowd thought, and it was deserved.
It was a big call in goal
There had been a clamour for Dillon Phillips to be given a chance in the league before Good Friday, but Sergej Jakirovic made it clear Ivor Pandur would come back into the team, and so he did.
Changing goalkeepers is always viewed as a big call by any manager at any point if the season, but it was made clear that Friday’s switch was because of Pandur not arriving back from international duty until Thursday afternoon, so he wasn’t dropped in the traditional sense.
What Phillips’ display at the Kassam Stadium did show was that he is capable at this level, and that he can perhaps push Pandur in these final games of the season.
How did Collyer do?
Inside a minute, he was in quickly to win the ball off his man after Semi Ajayi had given the ball to Ephron Mason-Clark in the middle of the park, and that set the tone for a really good half.
Constantly on the move, stealing the ball, winning his tackles and always available. Arguably, in what was a really encouraging first half, he was probably the Tigers’ best player. Started the second half in a similar way, with a lovely piece of footwork to escape trouble.
Collyer’s overall performance was superb, and he deserved his standing ovation when he came off late in the second period. Speaking to him afterwards, he says he’s ready to go again at Bramall Lane, and you’d want to see that performance again.
Tigers Trust Takeover
It’s always a big occasion for the Tigers Trust when they get to showcase their work during their annual takeover game, and Monday was just that.
City’s players warmed up in Tigers Trust shirts to raise awareness of the charity, while fans were encouraged to donate anything they could afford by dropping coins into buckets or scanning the QR codes displayed around the ground. There were also three mascots to lead the team out, which was a really nice touch.
Everybody is struggling, but the work the Tigers Trust do is valuable to so many in East Yorkshire, and days like this are hugely important to being able to continue, and grow that work.
Onto Bramall Lane
City now head to the Steel City and a clash against a Sheffield United side who have endured a tough, tough campaign which started with Ruben Selles in charge, before Chris Wilder’s return.
Though Wilder has been able to steer United away from relegation trouble, he’s been unable to find the consistency to mount a play-off charge, and they are already planning for next season, not helped by another disappointing result at Bristol City on Monday.
Given the number of Blades and Tigers connections, it promises to be a feisty affair, and Wilder will want to get one over on City and that flurry of ex-United players. For City, it’s a game they simply must get something from. They’ll go in good heart after this result.
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