Boxing Day Fox Hunt

Wednesday 26th December

Football League Championship

Hull City 0 Leicester City 0

 



During my formative years of attending Hull City matches, Boxing Day was one of the trickiest fixture dates to negotiate, both in terms of getting a pass out and indeed actually getting to the game - especially if it was at home.

Years later, as a more occasional follower of the Tigers, Boxing Day remains one of the trickiest fixture dates to negotiate, both in terms of getting a pass out and indeed actually getting to the game - especially if it's at home. 

Those family commitments that didn't seem too important in my late teens are suddenly magnified where tea at the in-laws is concerned, while the worry over lack of public transport has been replaced by Mrs Slush's need of the car to transport her and my offspring to the aforementioned venue for our Boxing Day meal!

Thankfully, my pass for this attractive looking game had been stamped some time in advance.  And so, at just after half-past one Wednesday afternoon, I found myself enjoying the rare luxury of a pre-match pint (even if finding a decent cask ale near the ground was too much to ask).

Having only got round to ordering my ticket two days' earlier, I was nearly one of those caught out by the size of the "Picking-up" queue for this, the "Tenth Anniversary" game at the KC Stadium.  The size of said queue would lead some to believe the KC was in for its biggest gate of the season to date...and they were right.  Thankfully, having allowed myself a little extra time, I was in my seat well before kick-off, looking ahead to what I hoped would be a "Pants Down Pearson" affair...

 

A bigger than pocket sized 10th anniversary edition



That it wasn't was due to a very efficient performance by a well-organised (as you'd expect) Foxes outfit.

Having said that, City still looked the more likely.  Although new custodian of the Tigers leather, Eldin Jakupovic was called upon to make one fine first half save, it was the hosts who created the better chances.

Jay Simpson could have had a brace, including one header that we were sure had won it for us right at the death, while the impressive Sone Aluko was also denied by a full-length stop from Kasper Schmeichel.

Torrential rain during the second half accompanied us all the way back to the car parked down the Boulevard, which made keeping the special A4-sized Tenth Anniversary souvenir programme dry all the more awkward! 

Any frustration at the squandering of more points  at homewas soon eased by another excellent post-match Steve Bruce interview.

Having not been one of the former Man Ure man's biggest fans prior to appointment, the City boss has won me - and I suspect many others - over with not only the brand of football he has got his team playing but the excellent way he appears to conduct himeslf in the media.  Which, as we all know, is the only thing that really matters these days... 

 

The full BBC Sport report of the game can be found here.  Alternatively, catch Rick Skelton's version from the excellent 'From Boothferry To Wembley' blog.