Hull City romped to a 4-1 win on the opening day of the Championship season at Preston North End, to top the table.
Despite falling behind early in the game in front of a partisan Deepdale crowd, City quickly silenced the home supporters to equalise through Keane Lewis-Potter 10 minutes before the break.
A couple of crucial saves from Matt Ingram at the start of the second period ensured City remained on terms, before going on to hammer North End with three goals in the final half-an-hour.
Richie Smallwood, Josh Magennis and substitute Andy Cannon all got themselves on the scoresheet, and here, City reporter Barry Cooper rates the performances at Deepdale.
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Matt Ingram: Little to do in the first half, could do little with the goal but pulled off a stunning save at the start of the second half to deny Barkhuizen and seconds later had had to be alert again. Crucial saves at crucial moments. 8/10
Josh Emmanuel: Caught out of possession for the opener and once or twice thereafter, recovered well and put a real shift in. 7/10
Alfie Jones: Whenever I watch him play I always think back to McCann’s Rolls Royce comparison, and it’s right, he rarely looks flustered. 8/10
Jacob Greaves: Had his moments of panic against a wily old fox in Tom Barkhuizen but kept him at arm’s length and responded well to a difficult start. 8/10
Lewie Coyle: Worked tirelessly to be one of City’s biggest threats down the right flank, you could tell from his display what it meant to a Hull lad to be taking the club back into the Championship. City’s best player aside of Lewis-Potter. 9/10
Richie Smallwood: Grew into the first half, played a lovely ball for the equaliser and looked calm, measured and in control throughout, winning the second balls and snuffing out the danger. Fair credit to him for taking his chance with the crucial second. 8/10
Keane Lewis-Potter #11 of Hull City celebrates scoring a goal to make it 1-1
(Image: Simon Whitehead/News Images)
Greg Docherty: Busy, never stopped working up and down, box to box, even when things didn’t go his way, he went again. He’ll be a star this season. 8/10
George Moncur: Always keen to get on the ball, saw more of it in the second half in the top half of the pitch. Drifted in and out at times, played it nice and simple for Smallwood’s finish. 7/10
Josh Magennis: Ran the channels well, didn’t get a huge amount of service in the first half, headed over in the second before getting a goal his effort deserved. 7.5/10
Keane Lewis-Potter: Ran them ragged in the first half, well taken goal and generally had the Preston defence on toast throughout. Needless booking in the second half and needs to learn that side of it. Found Magennis for the third. 9/10
Mallik Wilks: Worked hard, had one or two half decent openings but looked rusty and like he had missed games in pre-season. 7.5/10
Josh Magennis #27 of Hull City celebrates scoring a goal to make it 1-3
(Image: Simon Whitehead/News Images)
Subs:
Matt Smith (on for Wilks 80): Some nice touches in his cameo display, looked to have nice movement and first touch. I bet he can barely believe what he’s walked into. 7/10
Tom Eaves (on for Magennis 89): Caused problems and his clever backheel found Andy Cannon to thump in the fourth. 7.5/10
Andy Cannon (for Moncur 90): Surely it was his first touch to bang in the fourth from an acute angle? What a start to his City career. 7.5/10
James Scott (for Keane Lewis-Potter 90+3): Not enough time, clearly, but will have been pleased to be rewarded with minutes given all the speculation surrounding his future. 7/10
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