Crooks rescues festive point for toiling Tigers

CITY SERVE UP ANOTHER SHOCKING FIRST HALF AGAINST STRUGGLING SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

- By BARRY COOPER

Hull City twice fought back from a losing position to claim an underwhelming 2-2 draw at bottom side Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day, in what was a below-par performance.

The bottom side were deservedly in front just over 20 minutes in when goalkeeper Pierce Charles launched the ball forward, with Svante Ingelsson running on and finishing past Ivor Pandur.

Eventually, after what had been a desperately poor start, City levelled eight minutes before the break when Mo Belloumi cut inside and fired in the equaliser.

On the stroke of halftime, Liam Millar had the ball in the net, but referee Stephen Martin ruled it out for something he deemed a foul.

Wednesday were back in front just after the hour when more awful defending from City was punished, with Bailey Cadamarteri firing past Pandur. Matt Crooks brought City back on terms five minutes later.

In truth, City failed to reach the standards we've seen in the past three wins and will probably count themselves lucky to get out of Sheffield without the embarrassment of being the first team to lose at Hillsborough this season, but this performance will have left Sergej Jakirovic angry.

Jakirovic made one change from the side that beat West Brom a week ago, with Amir Hadziahmetovic replacing Kyle Joseph, who dropped to the bench.