Hull City 2 Leicester City 2: The Vardy party feat. Abdul
It was Tigers v Foxes on the pitch after a pretty turbulent week off it for Leicester. With Ipswich and Leeds closing the gap to the top and the looming financial issues, this was another huge game. Helen Thompson made the trip north for it.
With Leeds breathing down our necks and even avoiding the manager of the month curse (so far), every game looks like a six pointer and a must win. It's not all about the points either, it's trying to stay positive and not destroy morale when it feels like a lot of things are working against us. These are tests of the nerves in the stands.
After hanging on against Sunderland, the onslaught of news and rumours about our incoming financial ruin and the ramifications of it are less than ideal and raises a few questions.
Would we adopt a siege mentality on the pitch or would this new crack be one too far in a team who have looked prone to error of late? How would the away crowd react; would the focus be on supporting the team or voicing discontent at those running the club?
Perhaps it was good that this was an away game but in some ways getting back to the actual game felt like light relief given the heavy topics surrounding us elsewhere. Actual matches are one thing we can keep some form of control over.
Hull had already got the better of us once this season, adopting the get a goal and sit back approach. We had to expect a more attacking show from them and we definitely got it. Ignoring the referee ruining the flow and generally making wild and inconsistent mistakes, this was another nail biter of a game as a Leicester fan. For any great moment, insert ten moments of utter frustration or ridiculous decisions. This is the Leicester way.
When Stephy Mavididi conceded a (pretty soft looking) penalty after just six minutes when James Justin had lost his man, it had a feel of “not another one of these days” but Mads Hermansen showed his worth yet again, denying the home side by saving the spot kick. Perhaps we were going to revert to siege mentality.
A draw was probably the fair result in the end for both sides though. A win would have been the perfect antidote to the depressing headlines but just not losing felt like the main objective, keeping some sort of gap to those chasing us.
Vocal discontent in the North stand
Maybe it was just the section of the North Stand away end that I was seated in but it felt a little muted in the build up to today's game. There was a general lack of confidence and a few nerves. The mood seemed to lift slightly as news of Cardiff beating Ipswich trickled in.
There was less open talk of the week's news than expected too. Although the away end was pretty quick to voice their discontent more prominently once the game was underway. A lot of the chants aren’t family friendly to post here but you can guess the content.
Jon Rudkin was naturally the brunt of most of the chants but the entire board was named too at the end. Although as the man in front of me said “we don't even know who most of them are, we never see them, they don’t speak”. It hits the nail on the head really.
Perhaps if they ever came out and spoke to us or gave statements, there'd be a little less frustration around it all. Instead, it's silence from those who can comment and they leave the manager and the squad in the firing line. It also leaves the fans unsure how to feel and with no control over any of it.
Quite how it impacts Maresca and his players is unknown. Whether anybody that isn't them even heard today's chants is equally unknown. There were plenty of chants of appreciation or love for the team and Maresca to balance the protests out.
Given we aren't back at the King Power until April 1st (insert joke about who the fools are), it'll be fascinating to see what is addressed or said to us before that if anything at all.
Fa(es)rcical errors mostly of our own making
There were a few subpar performances in this game so perhaps it's a little harsh to single out Wout Faes. But as one of the last lines of defence, if he does slip up it tends to be more noticeable.
This was a poor outing from the Belgian and one of the worst moments was how easily he was dispossessed by Anass Zaroury who had the fairly simple job of tapping the ball to Fabio Carvalho was never going to miss after having had his penalty saved. It was a howler and a gift to Hull City.
Jannik Vestergaard was straight back into the side having served his suspension. Following a week where Conor Coady showed what he can bring, he was the one who missed out. Callum Doyle also gave way, Justin preferred to combat the speed at which Hull break and the pace of Coyle and Philogene. For me, it's time to start Coady and Vestergaard together in the league.
Defenders aside, we lacked in other areas too. Far too often Hull were able to slice straight through the midfield unopposed. They had acres of space and we looked slow to close down or contest the ball at times. Trying to pinpoint the exact reason is tough but it just looked a little flat again from the players that we need to fizz, Stephy Mavididi and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Switching Yunus Akgun at halftime for Wilfred Ndidi did make a difference. Yunus yet again had energy and movement but no execution, his decision making continuing to baffle. It was painful just how much we missed Ricardo too, both for his contributions in midfield and at right back.
Not all of the mistakes today were caused by us though. It's impossible not to mention the impact of the referee, what he gave and what he didn't. Both teams finished the game with two yellow cards which is scandalous considering the cards he could have issued. He should have issued a second yellow to the Hull player that obstructed a free-kick but appeared to wimp out. Yes, we have to play well enough to get a result but the way calls were made today, or not, doesn't assist.
The Vardy party gets underway with a guest appearance from Abdul
There were plenty of Jamie Vardy chants today, deservedly so. Our last four goals now have all been scored by the goat and today makes it seven in his last eight. When he stepped up to take the penalty, it and the trademark wind up the opposition fans celebration were never in doubt.
Alongside Vardy for highlights of the game was Abdul Fatawu. He was the best creative outlet we had and involved in both goals. After weaving into the box, he was fouled to gain us the penalty. And the goal to level the game again at 2-2 was down to his quick thinking and quicker feet, before sliding a perfect ball straight to Vardy's feet.
Despite his age, he never looked nervous like some of the others. I'm trying not to worry about how we afford to buy him because we absolutely have to. Shall we start the crowdfunding effort now?
Scoring straight after conceding was huge and showed some much needed energy and character that was largely lacking otherwise. Despite the vintage Vardy moments, there was still plenty to be improved on. But a point away at a side who are also chasing playoffs shouldn't be sniffed at.
Maresca has some time now to reflect and tinker, next weekend it's back to FA Cup action. Another weekend that will divide the fanbase into two camps. The first camp will want us to go all guns blazing and push Chelsea, who have looked vulnerable so often this season. The other camp will say the only thing that matters is the last nine games of the Championship.
There's an argument for both, though keeping a positive mentality and getting back to some winning mentality as we go into the international break wouldn't hurt.
