Ricketts – Plymouth MOM

Vital Hull’s latest poll asked you who was the best performer for the Tigers during the opening day defeat to Plymouth Argyle.

With 42% of the vote, City right-back Sam Ricketts won the vote, with Dean Windass claiming second place with 17% of the vote and midfielder Dean Marney claiming second third with 16%.

Ricketts was solid throughout and the Welsh defender had to be considering he had very little cover due to the formation deployed by Phil Brown. Ricketts often found himself as the only outlet on the right-hand side meaning he was playing the right-back and right-midfield role for much of the match.

Dean Windass, who came second in the poll, opened the scoring after just three minutes as he followed up Nick Barmby’s shot that had hit the post. Windass’ shot also hit the post but fortunately for the thirty-eight year old signing from Bradford, the ball found the back of the net.

Windass couldn’t repeat that later on as he saw his poor penalty saved by the Plymouth keeper. However, former Spurs midfielder Dean Marney reacted first to score what at the time was the equalising goal for Phil Brown’s side.

However, substitute Sylvain Ebanks-Blake was Plymouth’s hero as he appeared from the substitute`s bench to run onto a long ball and power a striker into the bottom corner to claim all three points.

Brown will now take his team to Crewe Alexandra where he is expected to field a mixture of reserve and first-team players. Wayne Brown, the £450,000 signing from Colchester United is expected to feature with a starting place at Coventry City in mind.