A Hull City fan holds a protest sign under his arm during the Premier League match between Hull City and Leicester City at KCOM Stadium on August 13, 2016 in Hull, England.
Advertisement
The stand-in captain believes his temporary boss can restore some sanity to the newly-promoted, crisis-hit club after guiding them to a miraculous season-opening victory over last season’s champions Leicester. “We made a big effort but it was individual effort, not like a team”, Ranieri told.
Erik Lamela’s excellent second-half header rescued a 1-1 draw for Tottenham Hotspur at Everton.
Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri reiterated the aim for this season is for the Premier League champions to avoid relegation.
Leroy Fer scored a late victor as Swansea beat Burnley 1-0 at Turf Moor and a header from West Bromwich Albion’s Salomon Rondon gave the visitors a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace.
Hull City defender Curtis Davies has backed Mike Phelan to be named the club’s next permanent manager.
Despite the backdrop to its top-flight return, Hull took the lead in first-half stoppage time with an acrobatic shot by Adama Diomande.
“We tried to win but sometimes it’s not possible”, Ranieri added. “We made some mistakes and we have to think where we made them”.
Leicester responded immediately after half-time, winning a penalty within 20 seconds of the restart as Tom Huddlestone was judged to have clipped Demarai Gray inside the area.
Leicester’s stumble was followed by an equally gripping encounter at Eastlands, where new City manager Guardiola enjoyed some good fortune in his first Premier League match. We scored a goal, created good chances and we were unlucky – those are positive things.
Guardiola’s debut began in ideal fashion when Raheem Sterling won a fourth-minute penalty after a foul by Patrick van Aanholt.
But Lamela equalised in the 59th minute with a header from Kyle Walker’s cross.
The visitors could have snatched a late victor but Everton keeper Maarten Stekelenburg denied new signing Vincent Janssen. But, look at what they said last season, and how that turned out!
The home side’s best chance came eight minutes into the second half. Mahrez stepped up and put the ball straight down the middle easily.
“The club won’t be able to sustain a push in the Premier League without the influx of new players”.
Former Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo had given Boro an 11th-minute lead.
Boro lent credence to that line of thinking with a 1-1 draw to Stoke City in its opener.
Fer grabbed the victor eight minutes from time, bundling the ball in from close range after Heaton had saved Fernando Llorente’s header.
“Today was a normal match, maybe a draw was normal but we lost it”.
Advertisement
Etienne Capoue put Watford ahead from Troy Deeney’s knock-down in the ninth minute, but Nathan Redmond volleyed home a 58th-minute leveller after a weak punch by Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.
