A highly anticipated Yorkshire Derby midweek match saw Leeds United and Hull City unable to break the 0-0 deadlock tonight. The sold-out signs were out for the first time this season at the MKM Stadium, as Leeds brought along a lively crowd to brighten up the dismal Yorkshire weather and it seemed for the first half at least, Leeds could win this and be on their merry way back home.
Leeds United had only lost one of their last 12 League games against other Yorkshire teams and hadn’t lost away to such a side since February 2018 against Sheffield United in the Championship. Both teams were looking to hoist themselves up the table, and with a successful away run for Leeds United and coming off the back off a spectacular performance against Millwall, this was a going to be a hard battle.
Hull sprinted out of the starting tracks taking possession early doors, but clinically the finish just wasn’t there, and subsequently spent most of the first half defending against a more methodical Leeds United.
Gnonto went down injured at 12 minutes and then again at 19 mins, finally being substituted and replaced by Summerville, an unexpected blow for Leeds United but Summerville was clearly not phased by this at all.
Despite the initial electric atmosphere in the ground amongst the fans, this seemed to slowly ebb away as the home fans and players appeared to not quite get the sense of occasion. However Hull manager Liam Rosenior had different ideas and wanted to get involved in the play of the game, receiving his second yellow card in as many games at 14 minutes for kicking the ball away, allowing referee Steve Martin to set a precedence for a flurry of yellow cards throughout the game, which would be detrimental to Leeds United later on!
Summerville proved his worth of an early substitution by having a cracking shot on goal at 41 minutes which saw a lovely one two between him and Georginio, saved by Hull City’s goalkeeper Ryan Allsop making his debut this evening, who was kept busy throughout the first half. A header by Piroe was blocked, and shots by Archie Gray and Dan James saw Leeds United traipsing to the dressing room at halftime goalless. A few moments of magic in the first half but chances were not taken, passes were missed, and a less than clinical performance than Leeds fans had witnessed just 3 days earlier at the Den.
The second half started off much the same, a little lacklustre, a little less creative play, and Ayling struggling in the first half, then deciding to take his own shot at 58 minutes, blasting the ball wide of the net, despite a range of Leeds players waiting in the area for it. Hull started to pile on the pressure in the latter second half and then Joe Rodon received his second yellow card of the match, resulting in an early shower for him. It was unfortunate but written in the stars, as Connolly set him up for failure and Rodon was never going to win the challenge, and a red card for him, three match ban, and Leeds United down to 10 men at 59 minutes meant the match was now heading in a different direction altogether.
A reshuffle for Farke as he hurriedly switched tactics, sacrificed Piroe and sent on Cooper who contended with jeers from Hull fans who like to remind him of his Hull City existence. Anthony replaced James, and the formation changed to a 4-4-1 and Leeds United now needed to dig a trench of defence. Hull were now pushing with everything they had and once again all the action was towards the South Stand, just like the first half except this time it was Hull directing their attention there.
Leeds were not going to take the sending off lightly however, and Rodon’s red card sparked a rocket up everybody’s arses as both teams then decided hey, let’s play some football!
Anthony had a cheeky cross at 69 minutes, Allsop smothered the ball, Ampadu chose to take a wild shot 25 yards out, Georginio was still in the game with an attempt at 73 minutes just wide of the post.
Meslier was now being called to action as Hull pressed on, saving a shot from Traore. The game stopped for several minutes whilst Leeds United waited to take their corner as Coyle received treatment for a head injury, and as the claret poured from his face due to an unfortunate collision with his own teammate, Hull were down to 10 men for a very short time, whilst they made their own substitutions.
Minutes later Traore missed an absolute sitter for Hull as he raced toward Meslier and hitting the post, the South Stand already on their feet celebrating, but he squandered the best chance of the game for Hull and still it remained 0-0. Three more saves by Meslier in the last six minutes in injury time and a timely defensive tackle by Shackleton, ensured Leeds United kept a clean sheet, got away with a draw and took a point away back to Elland Road.
Perhaps Hull did have more time to prepare for this match, and maybe Leeds United are a bit weary from their travels to London but this is the Championship, and three games in seven days is not the faint hearted. Farke needed to make some changes this evening to rest some players, and with Gnonto going off early and Rodon’s sending off, Leeds United did well to escape the Tigers claws with a point in hand. Farke showed his frustration regarding the whirlwind of yellow cards in his post match interview stating “a small situation changes matches” but also admitted it was “a good point, a good mentality and performance from the lads to dig in and take this home”.
The Championship is not always pretty or sexy, it’s dirty and gritty at times, but you have to grind the gears to get the results needed and Leeds United did just that this evening. It is early days in this League and there is a long way to go, and games like this will happen again and again, but the players held their ground and kept on playing, and as a Leeds fan that is exactly the attitude we want to see.
