Hull City 1-1 Watford: Ruben Selles Tigers pick up a point in Spaniard's first game in charge

Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Hull City and Watford at the MKM Stadium on Wednesday night; Chris Bedia put the Tigers in front, but Rocco Vata equalised to deny Ruben Selles victory in his first game in charge

Wednesday 11 December 2024 23:14, UK

Watford substitute Rocco Vata's late equaliser clinched his side a 1-1 draw at Hull and denied new Tigers boss Ruben Selles victory in his first game in charge.

Vata fired home in the 88th minute shortly after Hull substitute Chris Bedia's scruffy effort appeared to have clinched former Reading manager Selles a winning start.

The Tigers halted a six-game losing run in the Sky Bet Championship, but they remain bottom of the table and without a win since October 1.

Watford extended their unbeaten league run to five matches, but the point did little for their play-off hopes as they slipped to eighth.

Hull began with a spring in their step after Selles' recent arrival and Ryan Longman wasted an early sight of goal after being played in by Kasey Palmer.

But it took another 30 minutes before Hull had their first effort on target, with Ryan Giles' low effort easily gathered by Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann.

Watford had not troubled home goalkeeper Ivor Pandur either and the game's first spark was provided by an off-the-ball push-and-shove between Hornets midfielder Imran Louza and Palmer in the 36th minute.

Both players were booked and Hull were briefly stirred into action as Regan Slater's cutback in the area picked out Joao Pedro, whose first-time shot was well-blocked by Watford centre-half Ryan Porteous.

Watford, and Giorgi Chakvetadze in particular, stepped it up at the start of the second half.

The Georgia forward's ball carries pushed the Tigers deep and after jinking his way into space on the edge of the area, he curled a right-footed effort narrowly off target.

Slater then made in-roads into the opposite box and his low cross fizzed behind Longman before Pedro further lifted the Tigers' fans by racing clear on to Palmer's pass and firing a low angled drive wide.

Hull's confidence grew. Longman headed skipper Lewie Coyle's cross straight at Bachmann and substitute Mason Burstow, with his first touch, forced the Hornets goalkeeper into a crucial low save.

The home side thought they had snatched a crucial win in the 82nd minute when substitute Marvin Mehlem's sliced effort deflected in off Bedia, possibly via his hand.

But with the clock ticking down, Watford replacement Kwadwo Baah cut the ball back from the right and Vata swept home a first-time finish.

The managers

Hull's Ruben Selles:

"We knew this squad was as competitive as any other team and we had a good impression of the team today.

"I think we have enough. We just need to keep going, keep moving, keep building and those marginal gains every single game will give us the victory and I think with one victory we will just move forward.

"But we need to be focused on the performance. Without the performance we will not be able to get points.

"It looked like (a win) until the very last seconds. I think we were competitive. We had a lot of moments where we were the team we want to be.

"So I'm very proud of their effort. That last moment, yes, we are down, but the performance was really good."

Watford's Tom Cleverley:

"I'm really pleased with the players' character to get the equaliser. Their new manager bounce - it felt a bit siege mentality - so it feels like a point gained.

"Second half, as the pitch cut up, we maybe tried over-playing. All their chances seemed to come from low turnovers for us and it was maybe up to me to find a solution, where we go a little bit more direct.

"The pitch wasn't lending itself to playing football, so we couldn't change the momentum in the second half.

"But Rocco's an excellent finisher. He's hungry to score goals and I'm sure he'll get many more for this club.

"It will do a lot for his confidence. He's earned us a point this evening."