Tom Eaves was the hero for Hull City against Blackpool, scoring the equalizing goal six minutes from time against a stubborn away outfit who had taken the lead at the end of the first half through Shayne Lavery. When Lewie Coyle got his marching orders with ten minutes to go, it looked grim for Hull City - but Eaves popped up after good work from Keane Lewis-Potter and George Moncur to earn the Tigers a point.

  • Story of the match

The game got underway in the pouring rain, and immediately Demetri Mitchell looked dangerous on the right hand side for Blackpool, winning a corner early on. The home side, however, cleared their lines very easily as five minutes approached.

Hull City worked the ball around well a few minutes later, but pressure from the Blackpool defence in their own area stifled the Tigers' creativity and the chance was lost, allowing Chris Maxwell in the Blackpool net to gather easily. Greg Docherty had the home side's first shot on the 11 minute mark, but it drifted just wide as the rain started to pour down.

Blackpool had an injury scare on 14 minutes when their keeper Maxwell went down, but was deemed fit enough to continue after treatment. The away side came close with a couple of half chances before Shayne Lavery was penalised for a push on the Hull defender.

On 22 minutes, Callum Elder went down after a stray elbow from Mitchell caught him, and despite the home supporters baying for a red card, the referee gave the free kick with no punishment.

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Keshi Anderson then fouled Lewie Coyle and the home supporters finally woke up. Mallik Wilks should have scored, but delayed his opportunity and the home side could only win a corner for their efforts on 27 minutes. The set piece came to nothing, but it seemed like the home side had finally woken from their slumberous start.

City worked the ball forward well, and Keane Lewis-Potter was allowed to cut in and cross on his right foot onto the head of Wilks. Maxwell saved the effort, but Wilks was penalised for a shove on the Blackpool centre half.

Wilks went into the book on 37 minutes for a clash with Maxwell, and had the keeper stayed down the card may have been a different colour. As it was, Maxwell jumped straight up to confront Wilks and the referee did well to keep things calm.

With their first real attempt on goal, Blackpool took the lead. Shane Lavery volleyed home from close range after Mitchell's excellent whipped cross. Ironically, City had started to look the better team but switched off at the wrong time again. Coyle was booked for a late tackle on Lavery as half time approached with the frustration from the home side clear to see. The fans let their feelings be known as the half time whistle as loud boos rang out across the MKM Stadium.

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Neither side made changes at half time, and it was the home team who had most of the ball early on in the half. Wilks did well to win a free kick on 49 minutes, but the chance came to nothing. Lewis-Potter's cross on 53 minutes was inch perfect to the edge of the area, but Wilks couldn't get in front of his man and the resulting corner came to nothing.

Ryan Longman was replaced by Tyler Smith on the hour mark with McCann shifting Wilks to the right hand side. Despite this, City weren't threatening the Blackpool goal and with few options on the bench, there didn't look to be much hope for the Tigers. They had plenty of possession, but Blackpool made it difficult for them defending deep and they were unable to unlock the backline. 

George Moncur had an effort well saved by Maxwell with 20 minutes to go, and from the resulting corner Lewis-Potter had a shot blocked as the home side knew that time was running out to salvage something from the game. Tyler Smith felt he should have had a free kick with Richard Keogh all over him, but the referee remained unmoved.

Tom Eaves entered the fray, but the frustration was plain to see and eptiomised when Coyle pulled back the goalscorer Lavery to receive a second yellow and was given his marching ordered with ten minutes to go. City, however, had other ideas. Lewis-Potter and Moncur combined for Tom Eaves to smash home at the back post to send the home crowd into raptures.

Grant McCann responded by sending on Di'Shon Bernard for Moncur, and City almost went 2-1 up when Maxwell had to be at his best to deny Smith from the edge of the area. Blackpool launched a counter attack soon after that Docherty did well to prevent, and Eaves almost sent Wilks in behind with Maxwell coming out to clear.

Substitute Josh Bowler looked dangerous on the right hand side as the game moved into injury time and sent an effort agonizingly wide as Blackpool tried to make the extra man count. City defended their lines, however, and took their first point in four games to move on to six for the season.

  • Takeaways from the match

Tigers roar back through Eaves

It has not been a good start to the season for Hull City. Despite scoring four on the opening day against Preston North End, they only have one other goal in the league and that didn't look like changing for the majority of the game. Wilks had a glorious chance in the first half but hesitated, and a moment of lax defending cost them in the first half. When Coyle was sent off late on, it seemed to be adding to the Tigers' misery - that was until Tom Eaves popped up at the back post to send the Tigers fans into raptures at only their second goal at home this season.

Blackpool look at home in the Championship

Although Hull had much of the ball, Blackpool defended well and caused the home side problems throughout on the break with their 4-4-2 system. They will certainly shock a lot of teams this season and Neil Critchley will probably feel that they did enough to take all three points back over to Lancashire. Ironically they conceded when they had the extra man on the field and that will be something that he'll no doubt be extremely unhappy with.

  • Stand-out players

Shane Lavery was outstanding for the visitors. He took his goal well and caused all sorts of problems for the Hull defense. His pace is electric and there will no doubt be other teams looking at him if he continues this form. Tom Eaves was the difference for Hull City - they looked dangerous when they had their target man on the field, and he took his chance well. He will want to send a message to his manager that he deserves to be in contention for Saturday's game and in the 15 minutes he was on the pitch he certainly did that.