Hull City got their League One campaign underway with a 2-0 win on Saturday against an uninspiring Gillingham side.
In a game of few clear-cut chances, goals from Keane Lewis-Potter and Josh Magennis ensured Grant McCann’s side kicked their season off in positive fashion with three points in a comfortable victory.
Story of the match
The game started in exhilarating fashion and Hull got their season off to pretty much the perfect start when Keane Lewis-Potter opened the scoring after just three minutes.
After some brilliant work from Josh Emmanuel down the right, George Honeyman found himself with the wall at his feet in the area. His shot was scuffed, but Lewis-Potter was there unmarked to divert the ball towards goal and into the back of the net.
KEANOOOOOOOOO!!!!
— Hull City (@HullCity) September 12, 2020
🟦 0-1 🐯 [4'] #GILHUL#hcafc | #theTigers pic.twitter.com/nIbXZD7qXh
It was a great start for Hull, but Gillingham almost, and perhaps should have, equalised straight away when John Akinde was played through down the left and found himself one-on-one with Matt Ingram. Unfortunately for the Gills though the shot was tame, and the chance went begging.
The two teams proved to be pretty evenly matched as the half progressed, with chances coming few and far between. Josh Magennis, on his return from international duty, fired a volley well wide for Hull whilst Gillingham were restricted to efforts from set pieces as away defenders surrounded the ball upon every attack.
Magennis carried on to prove a nuisance for the Gillingham defence as he battled with Zech Medley throughout. At the other end Connor Ogilvie saw a header cleared, and there was time for Greg Docherty to see an effort saved by Jack Bonham just before the half time whistle.
The second half provided mostly more of the same. The few chances created were missed - Mallik Wilks wasted a golden opportunity to double Hull’s lead just after the break after finding himself unmarked from a cross and Medley headed a looping Josh Magennis header over the bar - but the flow of the game was poor, despite Gills manager Steve Evans introducing Vadaine Oliver and Scott Robertson at half time.
Hull searched for a second as the game entered the final 20, and they finally got it on 82 minutes when Magennis lost his marker from a simple set piece and headed George Honeyman’s cross home.
Gillingham lost their shape completely in the dying embers of the game as Jordy de Wijs and Emmanuel wasted chances, before Bonham sprinted out his goal, getting nowhere near a ball, and was beaten to the ball by Wilks. Lewis-Potter, though, saw his shot blocked off the line by Robbie McKenzie.
A well-deserved win for Hull - plenty to ponder for Gillingham.
Takeaways from the match
Hull well set
The Tigers endured a terrible campaign last season, finishing bottom of the Championship and being relegated by four points.
The club kept faith with manger Grant McCann, and after some good recruitment in the summer and a decent win here, it’s very possible they are ready to challenge at the top of the division to bounce back to the Championship at the first time of asking.
🔥 Two goals, a clean sheet and a win.
— Hull City (@HullCity) September 12, 2020
💪 What a way to kick-off the season!#hcafc | #theTigers pic.twitter.com/UnwCDLK61E
Gillingham need strikers
It’s been no secret that Gillingham have struggled for goals since Tom Eaves left the club at the start of last season.
A lack of firepower up top was the side’s problem in the last campaign - the purchase of John Akinde hasn’t paid off so far and with Vadaine Oliver the only other option to call on, Gillingham need reinforcements, and this game once again proved that.
Standout players
Josh Magennis
The Northern Ireland international often splits opinion between Hull fans but there’s little argument he is a very handy player at League One level.
Returning from representing his country, Magennis led the line well and was rewarded with his goal. He’ll be vital for Hull this season.
Keane Lewis-Potter
The 19-year-old was arguably a risky choice for the game but he paid back Grant McCann’s faith with an early goal and impressive performance, albeit out of position.
One for the future for sure, but one for right now as well.
Just the start we needed! 🐯
— Hull City (@HullCity) September 12, 2020
🟦 0-1 🐯 [17'] #GILHUL pic.twitter.com/kims7R50Gf
Teams
Gillingham: Bonham - McKenzie, Maghoma, Medley, Ogilvie - Dempsey (Willock 64), O’Keefe - Graham, Mellis (Robertson 46), Coyle (Oliver 46) - Akinde.
Subs not used: Walsh, Tucker, Woods, MacDonald.
Hull: Ingram - Emmanuel, Burke, de Wijs, Fleming - Smallwood, Docherty (C Jones 88) - Wilks, Honeyman (Scott 83), Lewis-Potter - Magennis (Batty 83).
Subs not used: Cartwright, A Jones, Samuelson, McLoughlin.