Post Match Reaction: Hull City 1-1 Leicester City

Last updated : 31 August 2005 By Rick Skelton
Photo © Corred
De Vries - a handful for Delaney (Photo © Corred)
On the face of it, a fair result and a good game at the KC today. Considering what they've achieved in the last 10 years, it's a bit of a shame to come against that Leicester City. They are efficient and effective, but a long way from the great side of Heskey, Savage, Lennon, Elliott, Cottee, Guppy etc. that Martin O'Neill achieved so much with. So, while it was probably a fair result and 4 points out of 6 is a great return from a tough weekend, there are 4 reasons why I can't help but feel a little aggrieved at not having a full 3 points today:

1. We hit the woodwork FOUR times in the first half. It was an onslaught of awesome set pieces. Price headed against the bar, Elliott did likewise, twice, and Fagan headed against the post. I've never seen anything like it, unbelievable.

2. We were denied what looked a good shout for a penalty in injury time. The ball bounced up and hit Maybury's arm. The ref obviously thought it was ball to hand, but I thought Maybury knew all about it, shouldn't have had his hands up there in the penalty area it should have been given. Considering he gave 2 free kicks for similar incidents in the middle of the pitch, maybe a bit gutless.

Photo © Benjybobs
Craig Fagan - "magic" (Photo © Benjybobs)
3. The no. 5, McCarthy, who scored the equaliser shouldn't have been on the pitch. Having being booked for attempting an amputation on Fagan's leg early on, he pulled Fagan back when he was running clear 40 yards from goal. A horrible, cynical foul that the referee spotted but took no action against.

4. Pricey missed a sitter. he made a great run, and latched onto a great ball, 1 on 1 with Douglas who was out of the area. He should have dinked over him or gone around him, but instead toe poked it straight at him. I won't give Price much stick though, because I thought he was tremendous.

The penalty decision aside, I thought Mr Clattenburg had a great game, certainly far better then the few times i saw him in Div 3. The decisions I thought were hideous were down to the appalling linesman, particularly waving his flag like a nutter after a superb tackle from Daws.

Having pummelled Leicester for 40 minutes, we were quite glad to go in 0-0 after Myhill made 2 superb saves before half time. Delaney and Coles did well, but struggled to contain the man mountain De Vries. Fortunately he was useless on the floor, but he caused mayhem in the air. Bo had a tricky spell after an injury in the second half, but recovered and made another blinding stop from Connolly.

Photo © Benjybobs
Boaz Myhill - recovered well from injury to make good saves (Photo © Benjybobs)
We took the lead with a good goal. Neat corner to the near post, diving Price flick on and Fagan controls and finished from 4 yards. Their goal was a hideous one to concede. A quick free kick wide, Sylla in acres of space, eventually 3 saunter towards him, allowing him to slip to Stearman on the edge of the area, he gets 20 minutes to have a cigar, cup of coffee and drift a nice ball to the far post where McCarthy heads in, but De Vries is also unmarked behind him. Very disappointing having done so well.

The game died out a bit after that. Coles headed off the line. They had more pressure. We chucked on Green, Woodhouse and Big Ben, but they had no effect. In truth, our bench looked very, very weak. 2 midfielders struggling to force a game, a right back, Burgess - who's short of pace - and a midget custodian. Once Fagan ran his socks off, we had nothing to match the threat of his awesome pace. We also chucked Burgess on when our wingers had started to have less effect.

Photo © Corred
McCarthy - "Shouldn't have been on the pitch" (Photo © Corred)
I'd like to see us pick up a young striker who won't mind coming here to learn from Barmby, Elliott and the like, but will provide some threat from the bench in times of need. I know the situation looks much worse when McPhee is out, but we are looking short of 1 striker.

I was also a bit disappointed that we left Ashbee on at the end. The promising chances late on fell to Ash to create, and he just doesn't have it in him. He'd done his part to stem the tide, it was time to let someone have a go at breaking through. For the life of me I can't see why Ash MUST play when everyone else is subject to rotation.

Unfortunately for Big Leon, his injury has come at a horrendous time; DD and Coles are starting to build a great understanding. Dawson was very good supporting forward and dealt with the threat of the diving Sylla very well. France had a decent game, but he's not a natural at right back. Wiseman should have played. Welsh made a bad pass early on, but never put a foot wrong after, looked very good. Elliott was a bit quiet but was always a threat in the air. Fagan was just magic; the guy oozes class. Barmby also a bit quiet, worked hard as ever and produced a few neat flicks. Price was terrific, a bit unsightly looking, but effective and a real threat.

Photo © Benjybobs
Jason Price - "tremendous" (Photo © Benjybobs)
9 points out of 18 then. Pretty good form. Would be worth 69 points over a full season, which is very solid, probably worth around 10th or so. I can't help feeling we are capable of more though. We've really troubled a few good sides and on a better finishing day, we might have had a point at Wolves and 3 at Wednesday and against QPR and Leicester. We need to be more ruthless.

Ratings: Bo 8, France 6, Dawson 7, Coles 7, Delaney 7, Price 8, Elliott 6, Welsh 7 (Green), Ashbee 6, Barmby 6 (Burgess), Fagan 8 (Woodhouse).

I finally saw the highlights from Saturday. I though MJ was unlucky to be sent off, silly to raise his arms to block the guy off, but no intent and no real contact. Elliott's goal was supreme, one of the best goals I've ever seen from a City player. Brilliant.