City Draw Friendly

Hull City’s third game of the pre-season campaign ended in a draw but the result was overshadowed by a potentially serious injury to centre-back Damien Delaney.

It took only a minute for the main talking point as a collision between Damien Delaney and goalkeeper Boaz Myhill left the centre-back on the floor. Delaney was unmoved on the Doncaster pitch for five to ten minutes as physio`s and paramedics urgently tried to assist the City player. Eventually, Delaney was removed on a stretcher before being immediately taken to hospital.

The Official Website later revealed that Delaney had suffered a broken nose but the extent of that injury was very serious to the player on the night. Further tests are being carried out today and we reveal any news as we hear it – hopefully the injury wont be too serious. Delaney was replaced by youngster Tom Matthews as City looked to focus on the match again.

The game itself was very even with both teams passing the ball neatly but not producing an end product. Ben Burgess had City’s main chance whilst ex-Tiger Jason Price went close with a dipping effort from twenty-five yards. The half-time score was goalless with many fans wondering about Damien Delaney rather than the player`s performance in the first-half.

The second half wasn’t much more interesting than the first as a combination of substitutions and the heat meant that the game played itself out to a stalemate. Parkinson would have seen more from certain players tonight but after a disappointing performance, will he have been happy with what he saw? New signings Sam Ricketts and Dean Marney had a sixty-five minute run-out as they played with their team-mates for the first time with both players making solid starts.

With Scunthorpe United coming up on Saturday, Parkinson will have another chance to work out his best eleven before the season opener at West Brom.

As well as the injury to Delaney, the actions of some Doncaster fans came into question. With Delaney out injured, Doncaster fans started to slow clap at their unrest despite seeing there was clearly a serious injury. Doncaster eventually stopped but only following an announcement on the PA system explaining the severity of the injury. Tensions are always high against Doncaster Rovers and this will have increased them for the next time we meet.

The Team
Myhill, Ricketts (Lynch 75), Turner (Byron 75), Delaney (Matthews 2, Thelwell 75), Dawson (Collins 63), Fagan, Marney (Fry 71), Andrews (Welsh 75), Green (Dyer 46), Paynter (Duffy 66), Burgess.