Hull backflip formbook to stun the champions
THE Premier League returned with a bang — and an upset — as champions Leicester were downed in the season’s first match by two goals scored by three players from Hull, a club supposedly in crisis.
The hosts’ opener was initially credited to Abel Hernandez, although the ball was attacked simultaneously during dual backward flips by Hernandez and team-mate Adama Diomande.
Replays could not settle the issue and even Hull’s caretaker manager Mike Phelan said he was unsure which player would claim it.
‘Both strikers touched it at the same time I think,’ he said. ‘It was quite unique.’ The Foxes levelled just after halftime when Riyhad Mahrez converted a penalty awarded for a foul outside the area. However, Robert Snodgrass lashed the winner from 18 yards just before the hour mark.
‘I was sure Hull would be a difficult match for us,’ said Claudio Ranieri, who had insisted before the game there was more chance of a visit from ET than his Leicester team retaining their title.
They became the first champions since Arsenal in 1989 to begin the defence of their crown with a defeat in their opening game.
‘They were smarter than us,’ said Ranieri.
‘We made a big effort but as individuals, not a team.’
Phelan has had to stabilise a club rocked by uncertainty since their promotion via the play-offs, almost wholly down to the fact the owner Assem Allam and his son Ehab want to sell and so will not invest.
As a consequence, Steve Bruce resigned as manager less than a month before the new campaign got underway.
Hull have a squad so thin — 13 fit senior players — that midfielder Jake Livermore was playing at centre-half and boys as young as 17 were on the bench.
‘I’m relieved, thrilled, all the emotions,’ Phelan said. ‘It’s been difficult for everybody concerned. The players had to galvanise themselves against the champions and their reward was richly deserved.’
His 11 starters all played 90 minutes but he said he let them do that because of the spirit they had showed.
‘There is a risk of fading away in those last 15 minutes.’
HUll CIty (4-1-4-1): Jakupovic 6; Elmohamady 6.5, Livermore 6.5, Davies 6.5, Robertson 6; Clucas 6.5; Snodgrass 7.5, Meyler 6, Huddlestone 6, Diomande 7.5; Hernandez 6.5; Subs not used: Kuciak, Maloney, Tymon, Bowen, Luer, Olley, Clackstone; Goals: Diomande 45+1, Snodgrass 57; Booked: Davies, Clucas
leICester CIty (4-4-2): Schmeichel 6; Simpson 6.5 (Ulloa 83), Hernandez 5.5, Morgan 5.5, Fuchs 6.5; Mahrez 6.5, King 6 (Amartey 68, 6), Drinkwater 6, Gray 6 (Okazaki 68, 5.5); Musa 6.5, Vardy 5.5; Subs not used: Zieler, Chilwell, Albrighton, Kapustka; Goal: Mahrez 47; Booked: Fuchs, Simpson
referee: Mike Dean 6