Hull City 2 Ipswich Town 2: McBurnie and Iroegbunam Rescue Point After Boos

Hull City drew 2-2 with Ipswich Town at the MKM Stadium on Saturday, twice coming from behind after a first half that saw them booed off. Oli McBurnie and Tim Iroegbunam scored for the Tigers, but Julio Enciso's second-half strike ensured the points were shared.

Competition: Premier League
Venue: MKM Stadium
Result: Hull City 2-2 Ipswich Town
Goals: Florentino Luis 22, Tim Iroegbunam 58, Oli McBurnie (pen) 67, Julio Enciso 75
Referee: T Kirk (Manchester)

Confirmed line-ups

Hull City (4-2-3-1)

Starting XI: Konstantinos Tzolakis; Lewie Coyle, Semi Ajayi, John Egan, Niels Mendy, Ryan Giles; Tim Iroegbunam, Regan Slater; Mohamed Belloumi, Elliot Stroud; Oli McBurnie.

Substitutes: Matt Crooks, Brook Norton-Cuffy, Andy Morita, Joe Gelhardt, Cho, Phillips, McNair, Herrington, Mouzakitis.

Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1)

Starting XI: Christian Walton; Abdoul Ouattara, Issa Diop, Dara O'Shea, Leif Davis; Palacios, Florentino Luis; Fatawu, Julio Enciso, Jaden Philogene; Emersonn.

Substitutes: Jack Clarke, Daizen Maeda, Chiedozie Matusiwa, Chuba Akpom, Flemming, Furlong, Greaves, Nunez, Scherpen.

Selection notes

Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic made one change at half-time, bringing on Matt Crooks for John Egan and switching to a 4-3-3. That change sparked the comeback. Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna made four changes on 69 minutes, introducing Jack Clarke, Daizen Maeda and Chiedozie Matusiwa, and later Chuba Akpom and Flemming.

The numbers

Possession: Hull City 30% – Ipswich Town 70%
Passes: Hull City 139 – Ipswich Town 336
Pass accuracy: Hull City 16% lower than Ipswich Town
Shots on target: Hull City 1 (Iroegbunam's goal) – Ipswich Town 3 (Florentino, Enciso x2)
Corners: Hull City 1 (Belloumi 36th minute) – Ipswich Town 4

Jakirovic's half-time rocket transforms Hull

Hull City were second-best throughout the first half, showing Ipswich far too much respect. The Tigers sat deep, conceded possession and created almost nothing. Julio Enciso and Abdoul Ouattara had early efforts for Ipswich, and the deadlock was broken on 22 minutes when Ouattara beat Elliot Stroud far too easily and squared for Florentino Luis to finish emphatically at the near post.

John Egan twice lost the ball stepping into midfield, but Ipswich failed to capitalise – Emersonn's shot was too easy for Tzolakis, and a goal from a corner was chalked off for a foul on Oli McBurnie. Hull's first shot came from Tim Iroegbunam on 36 minutes, but it was wildly off target. The half ended 1-0, and the home fans let their feelings be known.

Whatever Sergej Jakirovic said at half-time, it worked. He brought on Matt Crooks for Egan and switched to 4-3-3, and Hull suddenly played with intensity and effectiveness. McBurnie played a wonderful pass around the corner to release Iroegbunam on the halfway line, and the midfielder – Hull's only effective player in the first half – smashed the ball into the net on 58 minutes. Coyle half-volleyed wide shortly afterwards, and when Belloumi's dribble won a free-kick, McBurnie hit it low and into the bottom corner from inside the D to make it 2-1.

But Ipswich did not buckle. Enciso shrugged off a couple of weak tackles to belt the ball into the top corner from the opposite D on 75 minutes, and the game opened up. Cho thought he had a chance to win it, but Dara O'Shea got back to clear. Substitute Brook Norton-Cuffy's effort was tipped wide by Christian Walton, and a Belloumi shot crashed into O'Shea. Ipswich had their chances too: Jack Clarke hit a shot into penalty-area traffic, Enciso put the loose ball wide, a Clarke free-kick went just wide of the far post, and Daizen Maeda headed a good Enciso cross wide from close in. In the end, a draw was probably fair, but Hull will wonder what might have been had they started the game as they finished it.

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Tactical analysis: Why Hull's first-half respect cost them

Hull City's first-half performance was a case study in over-respecting a fellow newly-promoted side. They sat deep, conceded 70% possession and made just 139 passes to Ipswich's 336. The Tigers were content to let Ipswich have the ball, but they overdid it. Without an out-ball, they invited pressure and offered no counter-attacking threat. The switch to 4-3-3 at half-time, with Matt Crooks replacing John Egan, gave them a foothold in midfield. Iroegbunam and Slater could push higher, and McBurnie had support. The change in intensity was stark. Ipswich, for their part, will be frustrated they didn't kill the game off when dominant. Enciso was a constant threat, but they lacked a clinical edge. Both sides remain without a win since August, and on this evidence, both will be in a relegation battle.

Talking points

Should Jakirovic have started with the 4-3-3 that rescued the game? Hull were a different team after the break, and the manager's initial caution nearly cost them.
Ipswich's wastefulness in front of goal is becoming a problem. They dominated the first half but only led 1-0, and it cost them two points.
John Egan's distribution from defence was a liability. He was caught twice in midfield, and Hull looked more solid once he was replaced.
Julio Enciso's equaliser was a moment of individual brilliance, but Ipswich need more from their forwards if they are to climb the table.

What happens next

Hull City travel to Arsenal next weekend, while Ipswich Town host Liverpool. Both sides will be desperate for a first win since August. The Tigers will need to replicate their second-half performance for the full 90 minutes if they are to get anything at the Emirates, while Ipswich will hope to turn dominance into goals against the Reds.

Frequently asked questions

What was the score between Hull City and Ipswich Town?

Hull City drew 2-2 with Ipswich Town at the MKM Stadium. Oli McBurnie and Tim Iroegbunam scored for Hull, while Florentino Luis and Julio Enciso scored for Ipswich.