A late goal ended the Tigers’ impressive unbeaten run
In-form Hull City fell to a 2-1 defeat at Derby County on Tuesday night as their six-game unbeaten run came to an unfortunate end in the East Midlands.
City were below-par in the first half and offered little in terms of attacking threat. That assessment was summed up by the fact that they didn’t have a single touch in Derby’s half. Their only real bright moment was Matt Crooks’ fizzing effort from outside the box, which cannoned off the bar.
Derby were in front midway through the first period when Carlton Morris rose above Semi Ajayi, although it looked a foul, to power in a header at the near post following a flurry of corners. City pulled level early in the second half amid a vastly improved display when Joel Ndala bundled in, but a late error from Ivor Pandur gifted the hosts the winner.
Here’s how Tigers reporter Barry Cooper rated the players under the Pride Park lights on Tuesday evening….
Ivor Pandur: Didn’t have anything to do apart from pick the ball out of his net. I do wonder if he could have been more commanding from the plethora of balls hurled into his box. He made a smart save in the second and was perhaps a tad fortunate when he escaped his area. Slipped outside his box and presented the ball straight to Salvesen to turn home. 5/10
Ryan Giles: Made his 50th Tigers appearance at Pride Park and was pinned back for much of the first period. Got forward really well in the second. 7/10
Charlie Hughes: Made two rasping blocks just before Carlton Morris opened the scoring. One of which was when he was up against Morris and Agyemang. Did not deserve the goal going in moments later. 7/10
John Egan: Had plenty to do, in the first half as Derby sent ball after ball into the box. Really good second half and didn’t deserve to be on the losing side. Sacrificed late on. 7/10
Semi Ajayi: Started brilliantly but was caught underneath Morris for the opening goal. Looked like a foul in fairness. Impressive after that. Poor communication for the winner. 6/10
Cody Drameh: Tried to get himself forward down the right early on and the same again in the second half, pouring forward time after time. 7/10
Regan Slater: Made a fine challenge in the middle of the park early on to get things going, but couldn’t see enough of it. Teed up Ndala for the equaliser. 7.5/10
Matt Crooks: Started really well, dropping deep and then shifting forward and almost opened the scoring when his curling effort cannoned off the bar. Could have done better when Gelhardt played him through. 6/10
Joe Gelhardt: One or two promising moments but nothing more than that. Gave the ball away cheaply right at the start of the second half which was almost costly, but then freed Crooks who almost equalised. 6/10
Joel Ndala: Couldn’t get into the game, a bit like the first half at Carrow Road. Made his mark in style, though, in the second, when he burst into the box and bundled in the equaliser. So much more positive in the second. 7/10
Kyle Joseph: Fed off scraps in all honesty. Harried as he always does but couldn’t get into the game, nor could he provide any kind of threat. 6/10
Subs:
Darko Gyabi (for Ndala 69): A good arrival and tried to get involved in the contest as City pushed for a way back into it. 6/10
Enis Destan (for Joseph 80): No real impact in fairness, when City needed it. Needs a start now, surely? 5/10
David Akintola (for Gelhardt 80): Couldn’t get on the ball in meaningful areas as City chased a second equaliser. 5/10
Amir Hadziahmetovic (for Egan 85): The game was passing City by when he came on. 5/10
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