Hull City 1 Nottingham Forest 1: Sone Aluko nets equaliser but Tigers frustrated by Forest
Sone Aluko’s first goal for almost seven months did, at least, ensure the damage inflicted by the Nottingham Forest loanee did not prove fatal as the Tigers rescued a point that, if it can be followed by victory in Friday’s titanic clash at Middlesbrough, will mean a return to the top two.
Nevertheless, the promotion rivals who had been hoping Hull could be ambushed in a style similar to what famously did for Julius Caesar on March 15 44BC were still smiling at the final whistle.
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Hide AdA fourth straight draw at the KC Stadium means Steve Bruce’s men have now dropped more points on home soil in the last four or so weeks than they did in the opening six months of the campaign.
Just as importantly, Hull suddenly look a side ridden with nerves, almost as if the prize at stake is too great.
Only Mohamed Diame and Robert Snodgrass coped with that pressure against a Forest side who played as if without a care in the world.
The pair continually tried to get the hosts going but to little or no avail on another hugely frustrating night that saw Brighton & Hove Albion leapfrog both City and Boro by beating Reading at the Amex.
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Hide AdHaving surrendered not only top spot but also an automatic promotion place during the slump of the previous few weeks, the hosts needed a positive start.
They very nearly got it, 15 minutes having been played when a sublime pass threaded through by Snodgrass released Abel Hernandez and the striker was unfortunate to see his shot rebound off the post.
Dorus De Vries then bravely blocked Mohamed Diame’s follow-up and the hopes of City being able to stamp an early authority on proceedings had gone.
That was because of what followed shortly before the half-hour, as Gardner unleashed a first-time shot so ferocious from 30 yards that Allan McGregor stood no chance of keeping it out in the home goal.
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Hide AdHull might not have been able to do anything about such a spectacular effort but they had already been warned as to the danger posed by a lively Forest.
Not only had a neat exchange of passes by Ryan Mendes and Federico Macheda culminated in Michael Dawson having to throw himself in front of the former’s shot on goal but McGregor had also been fortunate to escape with a total hash of a punch that instead of sending the ball away from goal sent it heading narrowly past the post.
McGregor made amends moments later when he beat away a Macheda drive before Eric Lichaj fired the rebound high and wide.
Once behind, the Tigers stepped up their efforts and Ahmed Elmohamady spurned an invitation to shoot when collecting a Snodgrass pass by trying to shift the ball on to his more trusted right foot.
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Hide AdThe Egyptian did get a shot away shortly afterwards following more good work from Snodgrass but De Vries was more than his equal to leave Steve Bruce with a big job to lift his players ahead of the second half.
Whatever was said in the home dressing room, Hull again started positively as, first, Tom Huddlestone brought a smart save from De Vries.
Then, after Hernandez had rolled the ball into the path of Diame, the Forest goalkeeper was again called into action.
Diame followed that by heading wide from a Snodgrass cross before Dawson mis-cued an ambitious volley and the ball bounced well wide.
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Hide AdGradually, though, City lost their way and Forest really should have doubled their advantage on 64 minutes when a floated pass from Bojan Jokic played Oliver Burke clear.
With just goalkeeper McGregor to beat, the substitute should have put the game beyond the hosts but, instead, he dragged a shot wide of the Scot’s right hand post.
It was a major let-off and one that the Tigers capitalised on with 17 minutes remaining.
Tom Huddlestone’s shot was blocked but the deflection fell kindly for Aluko and he beat De Vries from close distance to net his first goal since a late winner against Fulham in August.
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Hide AdCity huffed and puffed in the final stages but came close to snatching a winner just once, in the final minute when Diame wriggled his way through and then hit a shot that was deflected agonisingly wide of the post with De Vries rooted to the spot.
With that went any hopes of marking this darkest of days from history with a much-needed morale boost for Bruce’s ailing Tigers.
Hull City: McGregor; Odubajo (Aluko 57), Dawson, Davies, Robertson (Akpom 78); Elmohamady, Huddlestone, Clucas, Snodgrass; Diame, Hernandez. Unused substitutes: Jakupovic, Bruce, Maguire, Hayden, Diomande.
Nottingham Forest: De Vries; Lichaj, Mills, Mancienne, Jokic; Mendes (Blackstock 84), Cohen (Tesche 71), Vaughan, Osborn, Gardner; Macheda (O Burke 57). Unused substitutes: Evtimov, Wilson, Walker, Grant.
Referee: A Davies (Hampshire).