A vibrant performance saw Hull City come from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1 at the MKM Stadium on Tuesday night, to make it five wins on the spin in what is becoming a hugely encouraging pre-season.
Goals from Nathan Tinsdale and Abu Kamara in each half ensured the Tigers claimed a deserved victory against the Premier League newboys, in what was a performance full of encouragement and excitement from Sergej Jakirovic’s new-look side.
And while it might only be a friendly, winning a home game at the first opportunity under the Bosnian will have not gone unnoticed amongst supporters who have suffered in recent years.
The game burst into life in the opening 20 minutes with Simon Adingra giving the visitors the lead moments after Abu Kamara spurned a glorious chance from Ryan Giles’ cross, only for young Tinsdale to finish brilliantly. Kyle Joseph teed up Kamara 20 minutes from time to seal a well-earned success.
The Tigers, fresh from announcing two new signings in the hours before kick-off, named Joel Ndala on the bench after his loan move from Manchester City was confirmed, and there was a surprise joining him there with former Manchester United youngster Brandon Williams.
Williams, who has endured a difficult period off the field, hasn’t played for two years but has been granted a trial by the Tigers as he looks to try and get his career back on track. There was no place for the club’s other new signing on Tuesday, Akin Famewo, with him missing owing to a slight knock.
City should have been in front inside a quiet ten minutes when Ryan Giles burst down the left flank and pulled a delightful ball across for Abu Kamara at the back post running on with his left foot, he guided wide.
The chance was reminiscent of the one Giles created at Stockport County on Saturday, when Kamara blazed over from close range, and the hosts were made to pay moments later when Simon Adingra slid a side-footed shot beyond Ivor Pandur at his near post to give the Mackems the lead 11 minutes in.
In the build-up to the goal, the Tigers felt Dan Ballard fouled Kasey Palmer, but referee Josh Smith played on, and the goal was given.
Crooks tried to level matters with an audacious clip from the right side of the box after neat play between Drameh and Kamara.
The equaliser did come shortly after when Nathan Tinsdale, the highly-rated youngster, capitalised on some defensive silliness from the visitors to volley in the net from 12 yards out. Crooks pressed well and Tinsdale executed his finish superbly barely five minutes after going behind.
City continued to play at a nice tempo, and came close to taking the lead midway through the second half when Drameh’s delicious cross found the diving Palmer to glance a header wide.
That chance came moments after Mayenda had seen a shot well blocked at his near post by Pandur as an engaging friendly continued to offer bright moments under the darkening East Yorkshire skies.
As is customary in pre-season, a host of changes followed with just over 20 minutes left with Regis Le Bris changing all 10 outfield players (their new XI looked like this: Moore; Tutierov, Lavery, Jones, Huggins; Roberts, Browne, Neil, Aleksic; Abdullahi, Ogunsuyi) and they almost fashioned a second, but City managed to see out a moment of danger, and at the other end, they took the lead.
Just under 20 minutes were left when Joseph went towards goal and with Kamara on his outside, looked to have passed up the chance. He managed to shove the ball onto Kamara unmarked to guide into the corner to give City a deserved lead.
Joel Ndala was introduced for his debut alongside John Egan at the expense of Tinsdale and Giles, and almost had an instant impact. The Manchester City loanee hit the post with what looked a neat finish, in what was a lively cameo.
Jakirovic made a flurry of changes 13 minutes from time, and one of those included former Manchester United loanee Brandon Williams.
On came Harry Vaughan, Pharrell Brown, Cathal McCarthy, Tyrell Sellars-Fleming and Williams in place of Palmer, Giles, Kamara, Joseph and Crooks..
Academy duo Noah Wadsworth and Aidon Shehu replaced Slater and Drameh in the final moments of what was a hugely impressive and encouraging display from Jakirovic’s side, summed up by young McCarthy storming forward in added time to win his side a free-kick and see out a fantastic job.
It’s ‘only pre-season’ but you can’t help but be encouraged by what Jakirovic has been able to do so far, and with Getafe to come in the final outing on Saturday, fans will be keen to see what that display brings.
City: Pandur, Giles, Hughes (c), Ajayi, Drameh, Slater, Palmer, Crooks, Tinsdale, Kamara, Joseph. Subs: Phillips, Vaughan, Egan, Ndala, Brown, Sellars-Fleming, Wadsworth, Shehu, McCarthy, Carter, Okike, Williams.
Sunderland: Moore, Ballard, Talbi, Mayenda, Diarra, Seelt, Adingra, Sadiki, Le Fee, Hume, Jones. Subs: Blondy (GK), Huggins, Jones, Neil, Browne, Roberts, Tuterov, Ogunsuyi, Addullahi, Aleksic, Lavery.
Referee: J Smith
Attendance: 6,258 (approx 1,100 from Wearside)
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