Hull City caretaker boss Mike Phelan was delighted with the response his players produced to beat Premier League champions Leicester City 2-1 after being pegged back.
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Hull City’s Robert Snodgrass celebrates scoring their second goal against Leicester City at the Kingston Communications Stadium in Hull, Aug 13, 2016.
Mahrez equalised from the penalty spot in the 47th minute after Tom Huddlestone clipped Demarai Gray from behind, although replays showed the foul occurred outside the box.
Leicester became masters of upsetting the odds en route to the title last term but became the first defending champions to lose their opening game as this time it was Hull who sprang the surprise.
Not since Manchester United thumped four goals past Arsenal 27 years ago have the winners of the top league in English football suffered a defeat on the first day of the next campaign.
Hull had taken the lead just before half-time and it came with Davies winning a header from a corner which was superbly pushed out by Schmeichel at full-stretch, only for the ball to drop to Abel Hernandez. “Obviously character’s a big issue when a lot of things are not going your way in preseason. a lot of the time it was fingers crossed to make sure that we had enough players to get out onto this field today”.
Hull have approached the season in a state of turmoil, with no permanent manager following Bruce’s resignation on July 22, and a thin squad stretched to its limits by injuries.
Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has insisted that the 40-point target he has set his side is a serious one. “We made a big effort but it was individual effort, not like a team”, Ranieri told. “My job is to enjoy my weekend because there’s not many Saturday nights you can enjoy in the Premier League and this is one”.
England midfielder Ross Barkley provided Koeman with a flawless start to the season at Goodison Park after floating in a fifth-minute free kick which evaded everyone in the penalty area and beat Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris at the far post. Lloris limped off with a hamstring injury in the 36th minute. We must be together, we must play together.
Philip said: “Unbelievable. I don’t think anyone saw this coming”.
Crystal Palace lost 1-0 to West Brom as Salomon Rondon struck the only goal of the game.
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Promoted Middlesbrough were denied victory in their first top-flight game since 2009 as a 67th-minute free-kick by Xherdan Shaqiri earned Stoke City a 1-1 draw.
