Cherries are sour

SCOTT PARKER couldn’t hide his frustration despite Bournemouth stretching their unbeaten start.

Greg Docherty’s second-half header almost won it for Hull – only to crash back off the bar as the Tigers deservedly earned a first point since the opening day.

Parker (above) said: “We had some big chances, the kind of ones you should put away, and it’s frustrating not to win.

“We huffed and puffed but I thought we did enough to win. We’ve not quite managed to get our noses in front because it’s a game where if one chance goes in then we head home with all three points.”

With more luck, Dominic Solanke could have emerged with the match ball – but found Matt Ingram on inspired form.

He kept out Solanke’s header from Emiliano Marcondes’ corner, before thwarting the striker with a smart save from a low Jack Stacey centre.

After the break, the Hull keeper sent a routine clearance straight to former Liverpool man Solanke – but quickly atoned with a brave block.

Tom Huddlestone pulled the midfield strings for Hull on the 34-year-old’s first Championship start since January 2020 and Docherty’s header from Lewie Coyle’s cross almost won it after the break.

Boss Grant Mccann said: “We created the best chance and in the end we’ve got to respect a point.

“We got better as the contest went on and defensively we were excellent.”

HULL CITY: Ingham 8; Coyle 7, Bernard 8, Greaves 7 Elder 7; M Smith 6 (Cannon 90, 5), Huddlestone 9; Longman 5 (Williams 58, 6), Docherty 7, Lewis-potter 7; T Smith 6 (Hinds 82, 6).

Subs not used: Baxter, Smallwood, Emmanuel, Mcloughlin.

BOURNEMOUTH: Nyland 7; Pearson 7, Mepham 7, Kelly 7, Zemura 8; Stacey 7, Lerma 7, Marcondes 8 (Davis 81, 5); Brooks 6 (Rogers 66, 6), Solanke 7, Anthony 6. Subs not used: Dennis, Cahill, Kilkenny, Taylor, Rossi.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Tom Huddlestone: The 34-year-old midfielder used all his experience to run the show.

REFEREE: Geoff Eltringham 8.