Max O’Leary had a great start to the game with two crucial interventions that prevented Hull from taking an early lead. George Tanner was solid defensively but faced a challenge when Liam Millar was introduced. Zak Vyner showed great pace and kept Estupinan quiet for most of the game. Rob Dickie had some shaky moments but grew into the contest and drove into midfield to set up attacks. Cam Pring didn’t have to defend much but struggled with the final ball in the attacking third. Joe Williams controlled the midfield well despite earning an early yellow card. Jason Knight had ups and downs in his performance but made important blocks and interventions. Max Bird worked well between the lines but couldn’t provide the killer final ball. Mark Sykes provided width and stretched the Hull defense but his influence waned as the game progressed. Anis Mehmeti became a real menace as the game went on and had a couple of opportunities. Sinclair Armstrong was a problem for the Hull defense in the first half but tired in the second half and was replaced by Fally Mayulu.
Fally Mayulu made a strong impact as a substitute, scoring an outstanding finish that should have been the winner. Nahki Wells had some moments but also made a mistake on a breakaway. Sam Bell brought attacking willingness but didn’t have a significant impact on the game. Kal Naismith came on late in the game and didn’t have much time to make an impact.
Overall, City had a solid performance with some standout moments from individual players. The team showed promise in controlling the midfield and creating opportunities in the attacking third. Despite the late penalty denying them a victory, there were positives to take from the game as they look ahead to future matches.