Leicester City opened its title defence with a shock 2-1 loss to newly-promoted Hull on the first day of the Premier League season.
Advertisement
Riyad Mahrez levelled from the spot, only for Robert Snodgrass to smash home the victor.
As a Hull City fan of 16 years, as well as an aspiring sports journalist, I am embarrassed to admit that for the first time in my life I arrived at Saturday’s game against Leicester City thinking my beloved Tigers had no hope what-so-ever of picking up a positive result.
Hull’s preparations for their top-flight return have been nightmarish, with Steve Bruce walking out and his assistant Mike Phelan left in caretaker charge of a squad consisting just 13 fit first-teamers, supplemented here by five academy prospects on the bench.
“Next week could be a big week because we still need to find players”.
“But all credit to the football players”.
“To produce the performance they did against the champions of England was a phenomenal effort”. “And I thought everything came out today”.
Jamie Vardy spurned a decent first-half volley and Ranieri criticised his side’s profligacy in front of goal.
“I think we forget.champions or not champions we know very well last season was something special”.
“They played better. We tried to do our best”. The effort was fantastic, but individual effort – not as a team. Bournemouth will provide a tough test but I think United will edge it 1-0.
Leicester equalized with a penalty nearly immediately after the re-start, Riyad Mahrez driving home the spot-kick.
The reigning Premier League champions have never lost their opening fixture of the following season.until today.
He began by completely miskicking an inviting cut-back from Ahmed Musa on the Nigerian forward’s debut in the 20th minute.
Spurs were back level shortly after the break as Erik Lamela headed home a Kyle Walker cross and applied the late pressure as Stekelenburg palmed away a close-range shot from Janssen, saw Eriksen’s free-kick go onto the roof of his net and brilliantly tipped away a Lamela effort that deflected off Mason Holgate.
When Claudio Ranieri said ET landing was more likely than Leicester City defending their Premier League crown, perhaps people should’ve taken him more seriously.
Advertisement
Diomande gave Hull the lead against the run of play in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, leaping in tandem with Abel Hernandez to meet Kasper Schmeichel’s punched clearance from a Curtis Davies header. Mahrez blasted his spot-kick straight down the middle as Jakupovic dived.
