Hull City manager Tim Walter expressed his frustration after his side’s 2-0 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road, a result that left the Tigers empty-handed despite their efforts to frustrate their hosts for much of the game.
Leeds, under the guidance of Daniel Farke, ultimately deserved the three points, but Hull managed to keep the home side at bay for long spells before Mateo Joseph finally broke the deadlock in the second half.
Joel Piroe then added a second, sealing a comfortable win for the Whites. However, Walter was left disappointed, believing his team could have taken something from the match.
Hull’s game plan was to quieten the typically boisterous Elland Road crowd, and with the scoreline goalless at half-time, Walter had reason to be optimistic.
The German manager hoped his side could build on their first-half performance and apply pressure on Leeds in the second half.
Indeed, some of Walter’s tactical changes were aimed at winning the game, but Leeds capitalised on a defensive lapse shortly after Regan Slater was replaced by Will Jarvis.
“Frustrating,” Walter told Hull Live when asked to sum up his thoughts on the result and performance. “Because we lost.”
He continued: “We want to win. If we play a game, then we want to win. We are not here to lose games, because in the end, you will lose games like we did, so that’s the reason why we try to change, to be more offensive, driving more forward. We conceded a goal in a bad moment where you can’t concede a goal in my eyes, then it’s a different game, and that’s how it went.
“We were not consequent at this moment (first goal). That’s our problem, that we don’t have the counter-pressing. If we drive forward, then you have to be inside. If you’re not inside, then you get another counter on the counter-pressing, so that’s how we concede the second goal.”
Walter acknowledged Leeds’ quality but was adamant that his side could have avoided defeat.
“At the end, you are losing over here two-nil and you are frustrated. Leeds are a good team, they are much further along than we are in their philosophy because the coach has been there longer, but in the end, it’s not necessary to lose over here and that’s the reason why I’m really frustrated.”
The defeat underscores the challenges Hull face as they continue to develop under Walter, who will be keen to see his side learn from these experiences as they strive for consistency in the Championship.