The Tigers continued their march up the Championship table
Barry is the Hull City correspondent, and previously covered Nottingham Forest for the Nottingham Post/Nottinghamshire Live. Barry has reported on Hull City’s League One title success and Championship campaigns
A breathtaking first-half performance from Hull City, coupled with a dogged second-half defensive display, earned the Tigers a deserved 2-1 win over Leicester City under the MKM Stadium lights on Tuesday.
Sergej Jakirovic, who watched from the stands as he served a one-game touchline ban, masterminded yet another eye-catching win over one of the fancied sides for promotion.
City led 2-0 at the break through Liam Millar and Joe Gelhardt, before Aaron Ramsey’s fine effort midway through the second half set up a dramatic finale, but the hosts saw it out to claim a third successive Championship victory.
Scintillating Tigers turn on the style
That first half display was as good as anything we’ve seen from City in quite some time. The way they tore into a team like Leicester, with the quality at their disposal, was a sight to behold.
If you thought the first goal was well worked with Amir Hadziahmetovic sweeping the ball down the flank for Joe Gelhardt to cross and Millar to curl in, then you’d be purring at the second. The interplay which then allowed Millar to free Giles to cross for Gelhardt was superb.
Time and time again they tore through the Foxes and in truth, could, and should have had a tighter grip on the contest at the break.
Leicester were always going to improve in the second period, and while City played into their hands to a degree, the desire and sheer will to win was immense, and they got their collective rewards with the three points.
A superb effort
After the Battle of Birmingham on Saturday, there were some tired legs out there as that second half wore on. Regan Slater, Millar, Matt Crooks, Amir Hadziahmetovic, Joe Gelhardt et all, but special mention must go to Kyle Joseph. Yes, he missed two big chances in the first half that Oli McBurnie may well have gobbled up, but you cannot fault his work rate.
His pressing all night was hugely important and it helped in the second goal. He ran his socks off all night, and while he didn’t get the goal he deserved, his overall performance was one deserving of praise.
So, too, the back four. From Ryan Giles across to Cody Drameh with Charlie Hughes and the returning Semi Ajayi in the middle, they blocked just about everything and dealt with some real quality so well. Yes, the Foxes had moments, but they were largely kept at arm’s length by some really good defensive work.
Another big blow
Sergej Jakirovic has said throughout the season that his one big wish was that his players would have good health, and unfortunately, those wishes have not come to pass.
Eleven games in and City have always been without key players. And every time they get somebody back, they lose another influential figure. No sooner does Mo Belloumi come back and he’s back on the sidelines, and then John Lundstram goes down, and now Oli McBurnie.
Those ones come after Semi Ajayi missed a fair chunk of the early weeks, and so, too, Matt Crooks. Skipper Lewie Coyle has been out as has Joel Ndala. City can ill-afford to lose such influential players with increasing regularity, and that is the biggest danger to their season.
It’s not intended as a hard-luck story or anything like that, and all teams seem to be nursing more injuries, but any team at any level are going to miss that standard of player.
That was a negative, now, I need two positives….
The return to the starting line-up for Liam Millar. Almost exactly a calendar year since he ruptured his ACL at the MKM Stadium against Burnley on October 23 last year, the Canadian wing-wizard was back in from the start after an electrifying display off the bench at Birmingham City on Saturday.
His performance in that first half was electric and Leicester simply could not deal with his movement, his pace and just how direct he was.
The goal was a special moment. Somewhat ironic that it should come so early on, almost a year to the date he suffered his injury 13 minutes in against Burnley 12 months ago. Millar being back is massive news for City, and on this form, he’s a real threat.
And the second?
Ahead of the Wednesday night games, that win for City has propelled them to second in the home form table behind Boro. Jakirovic’s men have four wins, one draw and a defeat from their opening six games at the MKM Stadium.
Given the struggles of last season, you could scarcely have believed the transformation in form. Thirteen of City’s 18 points have come on home soil, and they’ll have another opportunity to add to that tally this weekend when in-form Charlton Athletic arrive.
Fans are genuinely enjoying coming to the MKM Stadium now because they are watching a team playing some great football, scoring goals and winning games of football. Incidentally, the Addicks will arrive in East Yorkshire in good form themselves and on the back of a thumping 3-0 win at Ipswich Town on Tuesday evening.
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