Hull City began their 2024/25 Sky Bet Championship campaign with a 1-1 draw against Bristol City at the MKM Stadium.
Óscar Estupiñán’s stoppage-time penalty cancelled out Fally Mayulu’s opener as the points were shared.
Two players made their debuts for the Tigers in the starting line-up, as Ivor Pandur started in goal, while new German midfielder Marvin Mehlem also featured. Ryan Giles also made his second Hull City debut after making his loan move permanent in the summer.
The first chance of the game fell to the Tigers as Max O’Leary’s rushed clearance was picked off by Regan Slater. The midfielder drove forward towards the right flank before his cross-come-shot forced a backpedaling O’Leary to parry the ball away from his near post.
The Bristol shot-stopper was called into action again on 12 minutes as a floated free-kick delivery was not fully cleared by the Robins defence, falling kindly to Matty Jacob. The left-back struck a sweet half-volley, which O’Leary denied well when diving low to his right. Minutes later, the goalkeeper produced heroics again as Giles’ delivery picked out the run of Óscar Estupiñán, but the Colombian’s finish was saved from point-blank range by O’Leary. In the other goal, Pandur easily dealt with Anis Mehmeti’s tame shot, after the forward was picked out by Cameron Pring.
New signing Sinclair Armstrong broke forward for Bristol with a powerful run that broke into City’s half. Playing the ball to his right for Mark Sykes, the winger shifted the ball onto his left foot, but his curling finish went wide of the target. Pandur then saved well to block Mehmeti as the first half ended goalless.
Possession
54%Shots
15Shots On Target
3Corners
8Fouls
130
0
Cards
2
0
Five minutes into the second half, Bristol hit the crossbar as Sykes’ delivery found Mehmeti. The striker poked his effort goal wards, but a vital sliding challenge by Matty Jacob deflected the ball onto the bar before bouncing behind. Pandur then saved against Armstrong, before Mehmeti saw a shot deflect wide off captain Lewie Coyle.
At the other end, after the introduction of new signing Liam Millar, the Canadian winger cut back inside from the left wing before delivering a teasing cross towards the back post, which Estupiñán narrowly failed to meet in the six-yard area.
Will Jarvis and Abdüş Ömür linked up well down the right wing before Jarvis teed up Mehlem to shoot, but the German’s first-time finish flew over the bar. The Tigers continued to craft chances as Xavier Simons lead a counter attack, playing the ball to his right for Jarvis. The winger took one touch before his finish was straight at O’Leary at gas near post.
On 83 minutes, Bristol City took the lead as Jacob’s sliced clearance was brought down by Mayulu, who on the turn rifled his low finish into the bottom corner past the outstretched Pandur.
In the last minute, the Tigers received a penalty as Mehlem collided with Zak Vyner. Estupiñán stepped up and tucked his spot-kick into the bottom corner to secure a deserved point.
Hull City: Pandur, Coyle, Jones, McLoughlin, Jacob (Sellars-Fleming 87'), Simons, Ömür, Slater (Jarvis 59'), Mehlem (Burns 94'), Giles (Millar 58'), Estupiñán
Subs: Fleming, Smith, Racioppi, Ashbee, Tinsdale
Bristol C: O'Leary, Tanner, Vyner, Dickie, Pring, Williams, Knight, Sykes (Bell 72'), Bird (Wells 72'), Mehmeti (Naismith 89'), Armstrong (Mayulu 64')
Subs: Gardner-Hickman, Bajic, Roberts, Stokes, Pecover
Watch extended highlights of Hull City 1-1 Bristol City on Tigers+.
