Hull halt losing run with 1-1 draw against Reading

It’s now 55 meetings between the two sides and still nothing can separate Reading and Hull.

With both winning 18 fixtures apiece, a 19th draw was added to the history books after Hull hit back ten minutes from time to halt a four-game losing run.

The two teams still remain without a league win since New Years Day but Hull are likely to be the happier of the pair and stay in 14th position. Reading drop to 16th following no win in six.

Despite an uninspiring 90 minutes of football, the initial opening was in stark contrast to the rest of the match. The visitors began the brighter and could have opened the scoring just two minutes in.

A quick breakaway resulted in Marcus Maddison coming inches away from marking his first start for the club with a goal.

The former Peterborough man’s drilled effort was saved by the fingertip of Rafael and deflected onto the post. The subsequent rebound fell to Jackson Irvine six-yards out, but his follow-up shot was blocked by Royals skipper Liam Moore.

Any suggestions Maddison’s early chance would inspire impetus for the rest of the first-half were quickly discouraged. Instead, it proved to be a turgid, slow-going affair, with both sides seemingly void of any intensity or quality in their play.

The hosts were especially late to find an ounce of rhythm, appearing to be suffering the after-effects of their dramatic FA Cup win in Wales midweek. Afterwards, Mark Bowen admitted his side were “jaded” following their progression in the competition.

Mark Bowen’s men had to wait until the 23rd minute to have any real chance of note, Yakou Meite’s driven shot saved by the outstretched leg of George Long.

Despite Meite’s striking partner Sam Baldock hitting the side netting five minutes later, the first 45 minutes was symptomatic of the two sides current fortunes. Both had failed to record a single league win since New Year’s Day and unsurprisingly, it showed.

Photo: The opening 45 was a tough watch for supporters – @HullCity/Twitter

The interval brought a renewed vigour to the match, despite the unchanged scrappy nature to it. While the sides still lacked guile, both had ramped up their efforts.

But ten minutes after the break, the game got its much-needed goal.

The first real bit of any quality was evident when John Swift’s incisive pass opened up the Hull defence and picked out the run of Jordan Obita. The full-back managed to steal a run on any orange shirt, firing a left-footed strike through the legs of Long in the Tigers goal.

Eight minutes from time, Ovie Ejaria came whiskers away from doubling the Berkshire-outfit’s lead after striking the outside of the post. The 22-year-old danced around the edge of box and the Hull defenders, managing to manoeuvre a shooting opportunity. Much to the disappointment of the Liverpool loanee and the Reading crowd, his shot hit the outright and out for a goal-kick.

Seconds later, Hull hit back.

The Tigers went straight down the other end and produced a rare foray into the Reading penalty box when the substitute duo of Keane Lewis-Potter and Mallik Wilks combined. The former drove into the box before cutting the ball to Wilks, whose looping strike deflected off a Reading shirt and over the despairing Rafael.

In a game of few opportunities, a draw proved to be a fair result on the balance of play. A match where Hull managed to halt their losing run and come away from the Madjeski the happier of the two teams.

Team Lineups

Reading (5-3-2): Rafael: Gunter (Araruna 27′), Morrison, Moore (c), Blackett, Obita (Richards 60′); Gomes, Swift, Ojaria; Meite, Baldock (Aluko 68′)

Unused substitutes: Walker, Rinomhota, Adam, Puscas

Hull (4-3-3): Long; McKenzie, Lichaj (c) (Wilks 69′), McLoughlin, Elder; Honeyman, Batty (Magennis 60′), Lopes; Irvine, Maddison; Eaves (Lewis-Potter 76′)

Unused substitutes: Ingram, Kingsley, Bonds, Smith