Hull City 2 West Ham 2: Passions run high as Tigers unearth two gems

Assem Allam’s on-going attempts to re-brand as ‘Hull Tigers’ is the cause of the split, which for the first time saw the ‘City Till We Die’ chant jeered by a section of the KC faithful.

It suggested that a chasm every bit as wide as the Humber has opened up between those intent on retaining the club’s traditional identity and those who are comfortable with the name change.

What both factions did agree on, however, by full-time against West Ham was that the Tigers have a couple of new heroes to toast.

Abel Hernandez and Mohamed Diame, two of the club’s four big-name arrivals on the final day of the transfer window, netted on debut as City – fielding a starting XI containing 10 full internationals for the first time in their history – and West Ham United shared a point apiece from an absorbing contest.

The two goals capped fine debuts, Diame bringing energy and drive to the Tigers midfield while Hernandez, despite having just one training session with his new team-mates due to having had to spend last week in Rome sorting out his visa, could have had a hat-trick after taking just 39 minutes to open his Premier League goal scoring account.

First, the £10m record signing from Palermo curled an exquisite 25-yard left foot shot against the crossbar just before the break.

Then, in a second half that saw play rage from one end to the other, Hernandez brought a stunning flying save from Hammers’ goalkeeper Adrian.

No wonder, therefore, that both Hernandez and Diame left the field 13 minutes from time to a standing ovation. An identical reception was rightly afforded the two teams at full-time, and with good cause after providing such wonderful entertainment for the 21,275 crowd.

Since Hull’s last game 15 days ago, much had happened at the KC Stadium.

Not only had four internationals been signed but chairman Allam had revealed that the club was up for sale and an appeal had been submitted over the FA’s decision to reject his proposed name change.

The dramatic developments meant there was a tangible air of anticipation around the KC Stadium ahead of kick-off.

How many of the new boys would start? Would the protests against the ‘Hull Tigers’ rebranding be stepped up? And would the “silent majority” who Allam insists don’t oppose his plan stand up and find their voice.

The answers to those pre-match posers were ‘two’, ‘sort of’ and ‘yes’, as Hernandez and Diame made their bows in a game that saw chants of ‘City Till We Die’ – that for the past year have been sung during every City game at 19:04 minutes, symbolising the year the club was formed – being met with jeers.

It was Hull’s very own ‘yes’ or ‘no’ moment and showed just how high passions are running on both sides of the argument in the East Riding.

The game proved every bit as eventful with both teams contributing fully to a magnificent contest that saw the Tigers initially seize the initiative only for West Ham to hit back forcefully.

During that spell when the Hammers were on top during the first half only some resolute defending – most notably from Michael Dawson – and some wayward finishing spared City.

It meant that when Ahmed Elmohamady got away down the right six minutes before the break and Hernandez headed in the Egyptian’s cross, the game had its first goal.

The second came five minutes after the restart and was equally impressive, Enner Valencia thundering an unstoppable shot past Allan McGregor from just outside the penalty area after cleverly creating space for himself.

Once on level terms, both sides had no intention of settling for a point as Hernandez brought a flying save from Adrian with another left foot piledriver from outside the area.

Clearly not wanting to be out-done by his fellow debutant, Diame won possession midway inside the Hammers half on 64 minutes before unleashing a wonderful curled effort that gave Adrian no chance.

In such an open game, that never seemed likely to be the last goal of the night and the Hammers were level within three points.

This time, McGregor failed to hold a Sahko shot and, in trying to keep the ball out, Curtis Davies - the only non-international in City’s XI - could only turn the ball over his own line.

That ensured a frantic final quarter, as Sakho’s looping header was clawed to safety by McGregor, Adrian denied Robbie Brady to ensure honours ended even and then right at the death Dawson cleared off his own line from Valencia via his shoulder.

Hull City: McGregor; Elmohamady, Dawson, Davies, Robertson; Huddlestone; Livermore, Quinn (Brady 58); Diame (Ramirez 77); Jelavic, Hernandez (Ben Arfa 77). Unused substitutes: Harper, Rosenior, Chester, Meyler.

West Ham United: Adrian; Demel (Jenkinson 76), Reid, Tomkins, Cresswell; Koyate, Noble, Zarate (Song 62), Downing; Sakho (Amalfitano 87), Valencia. Unused substitutes: Jaaskelainen, Vaz Te, Collins, Cole.

Referee: M Atkinson (West Yorkshire).