Hull City have been held to a 0-0 draw by Slovakian side Trencin on their debut in the Europa League.
The Premier League outfit were expected to open up a first-leg advantage over their hosts, but they were second best during the opening 45 minutes.
Tigers' midfielder Tom Huddlestone wasted a glorious opportunity to give his team the lead on the hour when he saw his penalty saved before blazing the rebound over from no more than three yards.
However, after Trencin had the better of the closing stages, Steve Bruce will be relatively content with the tie being level ahead of next week's second leg at the KC Stadium.
Read below to see how the action unfolded in Zilina.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the first leg of the tie between Trencin and Hull City in the third qualifying round of the Europa League.
Hull City in the Europa League? No, your eyes haven't deceived you. The Tigers are one of England's representatives in this season's competition after finishing as runners-up in the FA Cup final in May. Tonight's fixture in Slovakia will be the first time that Hull have competed in European competition in their history.
Time for some team news I think. A quick warning though - if you're a Hull fan who was expecting to see a summer signing make their full debut, then you might be a little disappointed...
HULL CITY XI: McGregor, Davies, Bruce, Chester, Elmohamady, Rosenior, Huddlestone, Meyler, Livermore, Aluko, Long
HULL CITY SUBSTITUTES: Harper, McShane, Snodgrass, Boyd, Ince, Sagbo, Jelavic
Is it just me or is Hull's bench a lot stronger than the starting lineup? Anyway, Steve Bruce opts to name new signings Thomas Ince and Robert Snodgrass on the substitutes' bench for the game in Zilina, which may raise a few eyebrows. It should still be a strong enough side to get the better of the Slovakians, though - the majority of the team were first choices for the Tigers during the last campaign.
TRENCIN XI: Volesak, Klescik, Ramon, Cogley, Rundic, Lobotka, Misak, Hajradinovic, Kubik, Simon, Holubek
TRENCIN SUBSTITUTES: Semrinec, Skovajsa, Baris, Malec, Madu, Mondek, Opatovsky
While this is Hull's first game in the competition, the same can't be said for Trencin, who have to get past FK Vojvodina to get to the third qualifying round. At one stage, it looked like a routine passage after winning the first leg 4-0 but they suffered a scare in the reverse fixture when losing 3-0. They survived, though, and if they can come through this two-legged fixture, they would have gone further in European competition than they have in their history.
Here's a fact that may or may not interest you. Martin Skrtel, the Liverpool centre-back, began his career with Trencin, scoring eight goals in 44 appearances over a three-year spell in the first-team squad.
Fair play to the Hull supporters who have made the trip to Slovakia this evening!
PHOTO: The players warm-up in front of the travelling contingent of @HullCity fans #TigersonTour #CityinEurope #UTT pic.twitter.com/YFilqFqXjg
— Hull City Official (@HullCity) July 31, 2014
We are almost ready for kickoff in Zilina. For those of you that don't know, the match is taking place in Zilina because Trencin's stadium doesn't meet UEFA's requirements. Another random fact for you (I'm full of them...), this ground played host to Chelsea's first game of the Roman Abramovich era...(I think, anyway).
We are underway in Slovakia.
It's a fast start from the Tigers, who immediately win a free kick. However, despite a decent delivery from Tom Huddlestone, David Meyler's header is directed over the crossbar.
Since that initial flurry forward, both teams have been content to have the ball in the middle of the park. Hull won't mind that at the moment. If they can come away with an away goal or two, the tie should be theirs for the taking.
That's better from the visitors, who break forward down the right through Elmohamady but despite the Egyptian's cross finding Sone Aluko, his header is tame and straight at the goalkeeper.
This has been a good start from the visitors. They have much more quality than their opponents, but they were heading into the unknown somewhat.
Hull are having plenty of joy down the right-hand side with Sone Aluko linking up well with Ahmed Elmohamady, and between them, they win a corner. However, nothing comes from it and Trencin are able to clear.
The home side are beginning to get into this one and are playing some good football in Hull's half. However, they fail to win a corner for their troubles after the ball ricochets off their own player and goes behind for a goal kick.
Again, Hull target the right-hand side to break forward through Ahmed Elmohamady, who seems to have the beating of his marker. The former Sunderland man plays the ball to Shane Long who crosses for the advancing David Meyler, but his header is sent over.
The Tigers change their point of attack to bring Liam Rosenior into action. The wing-back delivers a fine cross into the box but Shane Long's header goes over from eight yards. The Irishman should have done better.
Trencin have enjoyed the majority of possession over the past five minutes and are threatening to finish the stronger side as we near half time. The Tigers are going to have to keep their composure as the pressure intensifies because they don't want to be chasing this match after half time.
It's very jittery stuff from the Premier League side. The home side are relying on the support from their supporters to help urge them forward and it's paying off so far. Peter Cogley has attempted a strike from long range but it went well wide of Allan McGregor's post.
Hull finally issue a response after 10 minutes under pressure. The ball is delivered into the penalty area for Liam Rosenior to head back across goal but his cut-back can't find a teammate and the ball is cleared for a throw in.
There will be one minute of added-on time.
HALF TIME: Trencin 0-0 Hull City
The half-time whistle goes in Zilina and Hull had made it to the break with the score still goalless. After a bright start, the Tigers allowed their opponents to build up a head of steam and the Premier League side are fortunate not to have conceded before the break.
Just a quick reminder that this is just the first leg of this Europa League tie. The second leg will take place at the KC Stadium next Thursday. As ever, you can catch all of the action with Sports Mole.
You wouldn't think that it will be long until Steve Bruce starts to consider making a substitution. As well as seeing his side become second best in that opening 45 minutes, Bruce also needs to take into account that his players are still trying to working towards full fitness ahead of the start of the Premier League season.
We are back underway in Zilina.
The home side have started the second half in positive fashion, but Patrik Misak's long-range drive is well wide of Allan McGregor's post.
Misak remains in the thick of the action and it takes a Tom Huddlestone intervention to prevent the Slovakian midfielder from getting a strike on goal. Hull need to be careful here.
BOOKING! Tom Huddlestone becomes the first player to go into the referee's notebook this evening. It's a bit harsh though. From the resulting set piece, Misak tried his luck from distance, with his strike narrowly missing the top corner. Allan McGregor feared the worst.
It appears as though Thomas Ince and Robert Snodgrass are being readied to come on. I'd say that the Hull supporters will welcome their appearance...
PENALTY TO HULL CITY!
TOM HUDDLESTONE MISSES!
Hull waste an superb chance to take the initiative in this tie! After Shane Long was fouled, Tom Huddlestone took responsibility from the penalty spot but his effort was well saved by Milos Volesak. However, with the goalkeeper still on the deck and the ball three yards from goal, Huddlestone, somehow, blazed over the crossbar from close range. It's an unbelievable miss...
SUBSTITUTIONS! Here come the alterations. Thomas Ince and Robert Snodgrass make their way into the action in place of Sone Aluko and David Meyler.
Despite that miss from Huddlestone, Hull are well on top now, and after a couple of lively runs from Thomas Ince, Alex Bruce saw a header diverted wide by the goalkeeper.
There are just 20 minutes remaining in Zilina. I reckon that both teams would be relatively pleased with this result, but one goal either way could make all of the difference. An away goal from Hull could give them a huge advantage for the second leg.
Both substitutes, Ince and Snodgrass, have had an influence in the first few minutes of their debut. Hull fans will be hoping that it can continue. Snodgrass had a free kick around 30 yards out but his shot was straight at the wall.
BOOKING! Jake Livermore follows his teammate Tom Huddlestone in going into the book. Patrik Misak has also been cautioned for the home side.
I've just seen a replay of the Tom Huddlestone miss. It gets worse each time that you watch it!
BOOKING! Curtis Davies is the third Hull man to be booked. The referee is certainty getting a bit picky! 10 minutes to go in Zilina.
SUBSTITUTION! Nikica Jelavic is going to enter the action for the final six minutes in place of Shane Long, who as always, has run himself into the ground.
Danger for Hull City, who are forced onto the back foot when Karol Mondek surges towards the defence before seeing his shot deflected over the crossbar from 20 yards. Hull have two minutes plus added-on time to see out.
There will be three minutes of added-on time.
Hull work the ball into a good area after some fine combination play between Thomas Ince, Robert Snodgrass and Jake Livermore, but the opening comes to nothing as the ball runs out for a goal kick.
FULL TIME: Trencin 0-0 Hull City
The full-time whistle goes in Zilina and Hull City have recorded a 0-0 against Trencin on their Europa League debut. Steve Bruce will be delighted with the clean sheet but Tom Huddlestone's miss from the penalty spot and even worse mistake from the rebound will dominate his post-match thoughts. It was a shocker from the midfielder.
That will be all from Sports Mole from this match. Thank you for joining us and we hope that you return for the second leg in seven days time. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
