Teenage Socceroo Lucas Herrington has made a dream start to life in the Premier League, coming on as a second-half substitute in Hull City's 2-0 victory over Manchester United. The 18-year-old defender, the only Australian in English soccer's top-flight, helped protect his side's two-goal lead in promoted Hull's return to the league.
A Memorable Debut
The lanky Queenslander was the heart of the home side's defence for the final half-hour as Hull earned their first league victory over United in 52 years. “Just buzzing. I've been watching the Premier League since I was five years old, waking up at all hours of the morning,” Herrington told Hull City's club media. “So to be out there with some of these lads against Manchester United nonetheless was a great moment for me and something I'll never forget.”
“It meant a lot to me. My mum and my agent were in the stands so it was a great moment for them. Obviously a Premier League debut, a win, clean sheet against Manchester United. It doesn't get much better than that. Just hearing the fans so happy, singing their songs and the boys putting in 100%. It was just a great event to be a part of and it's just the start of something special here.”
Hull's Stunning Victory
Written off as overwhelming relegation favourites, with former England player Joe Cole irritating their fans with his suggestion that “Hull are gone, man”, the Yorkshire side were deserving of their win over a lumbering United. In the 38th minute, the Tigers' central defender Nobel Mendy, signed on the same day as Herrington earlier in the month but who got the nod to start ahead of the young Aussie, scored their second goal. It inspired the inevitable chant around the MKM Stadium: “Are you watching, Joe Cole?”
By that time, Michael Carrick's United were already struggling to get to grips with a side that led through a couple of first-half set pieces. Semi Ajayi opened the scoring in the 17th minute when United failed to deal with a corner, and then Regan Slater whipped in a free-kick that Mendy latched on to and nodded home. But when Mendy had to come off injured in the 64th minute, Herrington got his big moment.
Herrington's Calm Presence
Herrington, who has a reputation for his calmness, never looked fazed as United tried to eke their way back into the match with a series of attacks. He only had nine touches amid United's huff-and-puff but they told of a young player who seems at home in the Premier League.
With Hull's coach Sergej Jakirovic revealing Ajayi, Mendy and captain Lewis Coyle will all have to be assessed for their injuries over the next 24 hours, Herrington will next be in line to feature in Tuesday's League Cup tie at Championship side Stoke. For Carrick, it was a horror start to United's campaign, a first ever Premier League loss to Hull, whose first top-flight triumph in their return after nine years sparked ecstatic scenes among their fans and owner Acun Ilicali as Status Quo's “Rocking All Over the World” blared out.
