After scoring 24 Premier League goals last season, Jamie Vardy was unable to open his goal scoring account for the new season, despite being presented with several good opportunities to do so by Leicester record signing Ahmed Musa.
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Spurs lost their France keeper Hugo Lloris to a hamstring injury in the 36th minute of their disappointing first half but they bounced back when Lamela nodded in Kyle Walker’s cross.
Ahmed Elmohamady was quick to intercept a Schmeichel throw, racing down the right to send in a cross Danny Simpson half-cleared that Snodgrass drove home.
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.
The most obvious problem was the absence of N’golo Kante from the midfield. Perhaps it was the loss from central defence of the suspended Robert Huth.
Nevertheless the positive manner in which Hull played against Leicester, whereby they attacked menacingly and purposefully, whilst defending solidly, suggests that their caretaker manager Mike Phelan has expertly prepared his team to handle the demands of playing in the Premier League. “Most people would err on the side of caution, in case they don’t get it”.
Riyad Mahrez stepped up to take the penalty spot and leveled the score.
“We know very well last season was something special”.
Ranieri repeatedly deferred talk of a title tilt last term by saying preserving Premier League status was his mission, but ended up guiding the Foxes to a remarkable triumph.
The embarrassment of England’s exit against Iceland cast a shadow over his summer, though, and he still seems to be recovering.
If the first half was anything to go by, Hull City did not look as undercooked as feared.
On Saturday that left Phelan with just 13 first-teamers, augmented by five academy players on a threadbare bench – and he admits things can not go on like that. That’s normal but it’s important to fight together, to go back as a team, that is my philosophy.
But while Hull may be short of numbers, they did not lack for effort.
Snodgrass restored Hull’s lead in the 57th minute with a powerful low shot from inside the area.
As the countdown to the Tigers kicking off the new season descended, the off-field problems continued as many fans joined a protest march against the owners, leaving thousands of empty seats within the KCOM stadium.
But those fans gave everything in support of their players too, making a huge noise to urge the team on. One crucial first-half block from Jake Livermore was cheered as if it were a winning goal.
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Hull goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic denied Christian Fuchs shortly before the interval, with the defender popping up inside the area after a neat one-two with Musa. There were also reports of graffiti on the stadium walls stating “Allam out”.
