Hull 2 Leicester 2
Post Match Analysis by Colin Hall
Championship leaders Leicester City ended a challenging week on and off the field by twice coming from behind to earn a 2-2 draw at playoff contenders Hull.
The Foxes began the game at a packed and surprisingly raucous MKM Stadium knowing that their points advantage over Leeds, which stood at seventeen at the beginning of the year, had been whittled down to just two. However, Ipswich’s astonishing injury-time collapse at Cardiff in the lunchtime fixture ensured distance remained between City and their nearest pursuers.
To the consternation of many among the visiting contingent, Enzo Maresca opted to restore the central-defensive partnership of Wout Faes and Jannik Vestergaard in preference to the stability and leadership offered by Conor Coady which had proved so valuable at Bournemouth and Sunderland.
But the first main threat to the Foxes’ goal came not from the opposition, but from referee Barrott, whose misjudgements at Portman Road had cost City dearly on Boxing Day, and would do so again here.
Barrott bemused the Blue Army after just six minutes with his decision to award a penalty for a challenge by Stephy Mavididi which looked to be a yard outside the area.
Fortunately for City, Mads Hermansen ensured justice was done by diving to his right to keep out Carvalho’s spot-kick.
However, the visitors’ relief proved to be short-lived, as minutes later, the Liverpool loanee pounced on a lapse by Faes – not the Belgian’s first in recent games – to fire the hosts ahead.
Despite often being unsettled by the opposition’s high-tempo, physical tactics, as well as a pitch made treacherous by its regular use for rugby league, City showed considerable resilience to stay in the game and even create chances at the other end.
After Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall had been unlucky to see a fierce long-range drive rebound from the inside of the post, City drew level after Seri dragged down Abdul Fatawu and Jamie Vardy tucked away the resultant penalty.
At half-time, Maresca introduced Wilfred Ndidi in place of the ineffective Yunus Akgun and although the Nigerian showed understandable signs of rust following his long absence, he brought more stability to a City midfield that previously looked second best for long spells.
The number of stoppages during the second half – some for non-existent “head injuries” to Hull players – meant the rhythm of the game became more disjointed. This was the same strategy which had proved successful for the Tigers in the reverse fixture, and looked like doing so again when Zaroury restored their lead with an angled shot.
This time, City produced an instant response, when Fatawu’s pace took him through the home defence to set up Vardy for his second goal of the game.
The veteran striker is now well clear as the Foxes’ top goal scorer for the season. Even at 37, Vardy continues to command a powerful circle of devotees among fans and media scribes alike. More sceptical observers will wonder, though, whether his form, fitness and temperament will serve him better in key games during the weeks ahead than they did at similar stages of some of his later campaigns in the top flight.
With a draw of limited assistance to both sides in their respective quests, the pace remained fierce and occasionally fractious during the closing stages. Although a number of Foxes seemed to flag during this time, Maresca once again seemed curiously reluctant to use the options on his bench, though he introduced Patson Daka for Vardy with four minutes of normal time remaining.
The City boss and many of his players were justifiably enraged when home midfielder Seri, already booked, rushed to block a Faes free-kick at point-blank range, but the referee, after immediately reaching for his pocket, then opted not to produce a card. The official’s wretched performance, sadly typical of many seen in this league this season, provided yet another reason why instant promotion remains an absolute must for this club.
Although City spent most of the TEN minutes of stoppage time camped in the home half, neither Daka nor Ndidi were able to convert chances that fell to them, while a number of strong penalty claims, following wrestling moves deployed at corners, went predictably unheeded.
Only the outcome of the season will show whether this game represents a point won or two points lost. Maybe Ipswich’s visit to this venue in a few weeks’ time will provide a significant clue.
The next nine league games will provide a career-defining test for Maresca and many of his players. It is to be hoped they find the qualities to pass it.
Hull (4-2-3-1): Allsopp; Coyle, Jones, Greaves, Giles; Slater, Seri, Philogene, Omur, Zaroury; Carvalho.
Goals: Carvalho (15), Zaroury (60).
Bookings: Greaves, Seri.
Leicester (4-2-3-1): Hermansen; Choudhury, Faes, Vestergaard, Justin; Winks, Dewsbury-Hall; Fatawu, Akgun (Ndidi h/t), Mavididi; Vardy (Daka 86).
Goals: Vardy (31 (pen, 62)
Bookings; Vardy, Faes.
Referee: Samuel Barrott. Attendance: 24 605.
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation.