Hull 1-1 Norwich City: Paddy Davitt Championship ratings
Paddy Davitt rates Johannes Hoff Thorup’s Norwich City, who recovered from an early setback to salvage a point with Josh Sargent’s superb glancing header.
Angus Gunn 7
None of the heroics required on his last visit to Humberside. But a big stop with five minutes on the clock when he thrust out a hand to divert Joe Gelhardt’s angled effort past his far post.
Confidently claimed another rising Gelhardt effort in the 11th minute but no chance with the power and proximity of Matt Crooks’ sweeping near post finish. Bailed out Callum Doyle in the 85th minute when he dropped on Regan Slater’s hit, after the defender’s wayward pass intended for Anis Ben Slimane was pounced upon by Slater.
Kellen Fisher 7
What a response to Thorup’s half-time demands to improve his final ball when he burst past the squirrel to whip over a superb cross, glanced home by Josh Sargent within 90 seconds of the restart.
Did a real number on highly-rate Aston Villa loanee, Louie Barry. Snapped in shortly after Hull had taken the lead to close the door and win a free kick into the bargain on the edge of his own box.
Overlapping option for Shane Duffy in first half stoppage time but lofted a cross into the arms of Ivor Pandur. Slipped in Sargent, who went for a reverse ball intended to tee up Borja Sainz, but it clipped a Hull leg. Contorted his body to re-direct a diagonal ball on the volley back across goal but no takers.
Shane Duffy (C) 6
Climbed highest but was unable to direct a Jacob Wright free kick on target in the 32nd minute. Willing to step into midfield areas and look for Kellen Fisher on more than one occasion prior to the interval.
Read the play excellently in the 59th minute to cut out an intended ball for Crooks, who had made another of those near-post runs. Threw his upper body at Mason Burstow’s rising shot on-target.
Played around too easily in midfield in the passage that earned fellow centre back Callum Doyle a costly booking. Headed down inside the Hull penalty box in stoppage time but Doyle’s rasping shot was blocked.
Callum Doyle 6
Will now miss two games after a 10th booking of the season for halting the counter led by Crooks. Lovely thread with the outside of his boot in the 38th minute dropped the ball over the full-back for Sainz, who poked tamely at Pandur.
Rolled a home defender on the edge of the Hull penalty area in stoppage time to latch onto Duffy’s knockdown but shot was blocked.
Lucien Mahovo 5
Had it all on with the lively Joe Gelhardt in that front-footed start from Hull. Ball-watching as the Leeds loanee stabbed an effort goalwards but Gunn thrust out a hand. Tricked again by Gelhardt in the 11th minute, but Gunn’s positioning was sound.
Left outnumbered when Gelhardt fed Lewie Coyle to whip in a cross for Crooks to finish. But showed a very good temperament for one so young to pin Gelhardt back as the game unfolded with his attacking work.
Pinpoint clip into the feet of Sargent, who laid the ball off for Wright to advance and side foot wide. Good block to thwart Gelhardt again in the 27th minute. Snapshot deflected behind late on.
Jacob Sorensen 6
Improved along with his fellow central midfielders after an uncomfortable opening 15 minutes in which Thorup admitted afterwards was in part due to pressing issues. Was attracted to Gelhardt in the move that led to Crooks escaping detection to finish.
Quality first time cushioned pass released Fisher who went for the big diagonal to Lucien Mahovo. Header down from the corner crated Sainz’s double chance in the 75th minute. Pats all round from his defensive team mates for a vital near post header away after Burstow had broke free of Jack Stacey.
