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Hull City were denied an important victory on home soil at the top of League One following a highly entertaining encounter at the KCOM Stadium against play-off chasing Gillingham.
Whilst Grant McCann’s insistence that his players remain calm and professional has brought about great rewards in recent weeks, a polar opposite approach, with an intent to disrupt that harmony, came almost single-handedly from the opposition dugout yesterday afternoon.
Between Steve Evans and his assistant Paul Raynor, the Gills bench were highly animated figures throughout proceedings, bordering on pure comedy at times, as their double act fell akin to the Chuckle Brothers with a dose of Roy Chubby Brown chucked in for good measure. It wouldn’t have been a surprise to have seen a body from Environmental Health visit HU3 yesterday afternoon given their incessant noise levels, much to the irritation of their neighbours just a few yards up the touchline.
Whether those antics fall within the spirit of the game, would be for the Gills staff to answer themselves but there was no doubting their influence as the Gills players were just as pumped for a win in the final moments of the game as they’d been from the very first minute of the contest.
If McCann would have been glad to have seen the back of Evans and Raynor at the final whistle, City’s centre half pairing of Jacob Greaves and Alfie Jones won’t want to be seeing Gills forwards John Akinde and Avaine Oliver anytime soon.
There were a number of bruising encounters throughout the afternoon and the aerial and physical challenge presented by the Gills front line wasn’t for the faint of heart. It was a huge test for the young defenders which saw Jones leave the field with a concussion as the game moved into its final stages. With Callum Burke out with injury, both Greaves and Jones deserve credit with how they withstood the challenge.
Greaves in particular wasn’t going to be intimidated in hacking the ball clear under pressure, and his ability to build the attack from out of defence was once more a key strength of City’s play.
But whilst Akinde and co were providing nuance for the City defenders, it was the presence of ex-Gills striker Tom Eaves that threatened to steal the show. Restored to the Tigers frontline for his first start since January, Eaves hasn’t had an easy time since arriving at the KCOM in the summer of 2019.
The big frontman could have been on the scoresheet shortly before he opened the scoring in the 9th minute. Having started a free-flowing move with some superb hold-up play in his own half, Eaves couldn’t quite swivel enough to get a shot on target after some excellent approach play involving Lewie Coyle and Greg Docherty.
Not that Eaves had to wait much longer for his next chance. Having survived a scare at the other end with Oliver hitting City’s post, the Tigers responded in the best possible way. Mallik Wilks found himself half a yard of space on the right of the Gills box and his volleyed cross to the far post was headed downwards and into the net by the big striker for his fourth goal of the season.
From that point on, Eaves’ confidence grew. A sublime touch on the volley from a long pass out of defence further underlined Grant McCann’s post-match comments that there is much more to his striker’s game than what he’s given credit for. He was almost on the scoresheet once more as he prodded against the post from six yards out after a marauding George Honeyman run from halfway.
Eaves showed strength and intelligence to play his part in almost rounding off a well-rehearsed training ground routine just before the break. As Honeyman fooled the Gills defence with a cut back from his corner kick, Eaves held off his markers allowing Docherty time to get a shot on target but disappointingly he blazed over the bar when well placed from 16 yards.
Having been unfortunate to have been left out in recent months due to the form of Lewis-Potter, Mallik Wilks and Josh Magennis, the 29-year-old Liverpudlian has had to remain patient for an opportunity. His performance yesterday will have certainly given McCann a nice problem going into the Easter period with Josh Magennis and Gavin Whyte returning from injury.
“I thought his (Eaves) performance was good. Considering he hasn’t started a game for a few months he gave us a real benchmark to build off as he got hold of things. The goal he scored helped him settle into the game and he ran himself into the ground.
“It was pleasing to see him score and on another day, he might have had another couple. Tom always gets opportunities in games, so it’s pleasing.”
But it was spurned opportunities that City were left to rue as they failed to put further daylight between themselves and the Gils, both before and after the equaliser. Jacob Greaves back post header hit the crossbar from just a few yards out following a flick-on from Honeyman’s corner and as the script often unfolds, just moments later, the Gills had hauled themselves level 0n 67 minutes.
Tom O’Connor’s set-pieces had been a real feature of the Gills afternoon with his consistent left-footed delivery and as his superb in-swinging delivery wasn’t dealt with at the back post, Jack Tucker headed back across goal for substitute Oliver Lee to volley home.
Despite the setback, City responded and had the chances to wrap things up. More excellent work from Honeyman, who had been inventive throughout, the midfielder stood up a lovely cross to the back post for Eaves to head straight down the throat of keeper Bonham and the keeper once more denied Eaves, palming away Coyle’s cross as he looked poised to head home from close range.
Keane Lewis-Potter also had chances to go on and win the game for City and following his recent success in front of goal, it was surprising that he didn’t go onto be the Tigers matchwinner.
The youngster couldn’t hit the target when presented with great opportunities from Honeyman, one a flashing header that went well wide and the second, a gilt-edged chance that missed the target from eight yards with the goal at his mercy.
Despite the veracity of Gillingham’s performance, McCann was pleased with his side’s performance, having seen them produce some excellent football. At the business end of the season, however, performances will provide marginal comfort as City were ultimately left to pay the price for failing to convert a host of chances as rivals Peterborough and Sunderland both closed the gap with wins.
Whilst Gillingham have been criticised for their direct nature, they mixed their style up with some excellent approach work and almost snatched a win at the death with Samuel hitting the woodwork in the dying seconds. On reflection, Steve Evans felt that his side have good momentum going into the final eight games and as they make a late charge for the play-offs.
“We are looking forward to every game thinking we can win and it’s interesting that we come away from the KCOM disappointed we haven’t won the game. They had one or two chances in the second half and they will be disappointed with their finishing, but I think the longer the game went it looked as if we would win.”
So long as Steve Evans has the bit between his teeth, he and his Gillingham side will be looking to make more noise at the top of League One’s final run in.
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