Hull City u23 v Burnley u23
Professional Development League
Eon Visual media Stadium
25 September 2017
City’s under 23 development side were coming into this match following back to back victories against Cardiff City (1-2 away) and Coventry City (2-1 home) and hopes were high that it could be three games on the trot. The game was very competitive but with neither side able to break the deadlock it ended 0-0.
The match saw the return of Adam Curry after a ten month injury lay off and allowed Robbie McKenzie to move back to midfield to take the place of suspended James Weir. Adam got a good 45 minutes under his belt and was replaced at half time by Tom Dyson, with Robbie McKenzie reverting to the centre of defence.
The visitors had a famous name on their team sheet with Anders Lindegaard, the former Danish International goalkeeper, between the sticks. Lindegaard probably being best known as a reserve keeper at Manchester United who managed a handful of first team appearances in the four seasons he spent there.
The first half started brightly with both sides playing crisp passing football and creating chances.
Burnley nearly struck first with Callum Burton doing well to push a shot from outside the area, by Harry Limb, over the bar.
Adam Curry got free from his marker and headed a Dan Batty free-kick wide of the post for City. Curry was then given a yellow card when after tracking back he brought down Limb outside the box. Dwight McNeil put the resulting free-kick wide of Burton’s right hand post. Then Curry was back in the action at the other end rising well at a corner only to head wide.
Lindegaard made a number of fairly comfortable saves from Hamilton, Luer and Olley the last seeing great combination work from Fleming, Hamilton and Hinchcliffe.
Burnley made a few decent breaks into the City half, the best seeing Limb waste a good chance from a cross by Ali Koiki from the left.
Tyler Hamilton was having a great game dictating play from midfield and came close with a short that went narrowly over Lindegaard’s bar.
The second half was a scrappy affair with City trying to dictate play and Burnley seemingly happy to contain them and break down play. Consequently there were fewer clear cut chances for either side.
Greg Luer headed a cross wide and Ben Hinchliffe hit a ball which may have been a cross or a shot but these were half chances at best.
The best chance of the half came from Hamilton producing a storming break from the left side of his own half diagonally to the Burnley right beating a couple of defenders and slotting an excellent pass to Greg Luer who sliced his shot wide.
Burnley’s only real chance in the second half fell to Tinashe Chakwana who shot low and wide from the edge of the box.
Batty had the chance to grab a late winner from a layoff by substitute Liam Edwards on the edge of the box but this produced a comfortable save from the experienced Lindegaard.
Overall a good all round performance from the team with Hamilton excelling. A clean sheet is always welcome but if they had shown a bit more composure and quality in the final third there were enough openings to create a victory.
Hull City u23 0 Burnley u23 0
Hull City
Callum Burton, James Yates, Brandon Fleming, Robbie McKenzie, Josh Clackstone, Adam Curry (Tom Dyson 46), Tyler Hamilton, Dan Batty, Greg Luer, Greg Olley, Ben Hinchliffe (Liam
Edwards 75). Unused substitutes: Charlie Andrew, Ellis Barkworth, Tom Powell.
Burnley
Anders Lindegaard, Arlen Birch, Ali Koiki, Mark Howarth (Jamie Thomas 76), Harry Flowers, Oliver Younger, Tunde Bayode (Khius Metz 58), Fredrik Ulvestad, Harry Limb, Tinashe Chakwana, Dwight McNeil (Rahis Nabi 76). Unused substitutes: Aiden Stone, Christian N’Guessan.
Report by Pete Fleming