Ruben Selles denied dream Hull City start as late heartbreak underlines work needed

Ruben Selles was left to rue a defensive lapse in the final two minutes to deny him a win on his first game in charge of Hull City, after it looked like he'd end the club's long wait for a win, being held to a 1-1 draw by Watford.

After a dominant second half, Chris Bedia scrambled in moments after coming off the bench, to give the hosts the lead their play deserved with eight minutes to go.

Unfortunately, his side switched off two minutes from time to allow substitute Rocco Vata to turn in from close range after a rare Hornets attack to deny him the win his team's performance deserved, but it did at least end the run of six straight defeats and give him a platform to build on.

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Naming his first Tigers team, Selles handed a full debut to Steven Alzate who came in for Gustavo Puerta while Joao Pedro returned at the expense of Chris Bedia, with the pair dropping to the bench where there was a re-appearance for Will Jarvis, but there was no Alfie Jones or Xavier Simons through injury, joining Liam Millar, Carl Rushworth and Mohamed Belloumi on the injury list, while Oscar Zambrano remains suspended.

Having survived an early scare, City broke quickly with Palmer feeding Kamara down the left, his centre for Longman was perfect but the finish was no so, slicing well wide from inside the box ten yards out - almost a carbon copy of his effort on Saturday which fell kindly at the feet of Kamara, who saw his goalbound shot blocked.

It was an encouraging start from the Tigers, backed by the vociferous home support, but soon after, Watford assumed control of the contest without really troubling the hosts, and it was the Tigers who came close again after 24 minutes when Slater glanced Coyle's cross agonisingly wide of the far post, and before Longman could get on the end of it.

Arguably, the highlight of the first half came after 35 minutes when Palmer and Imran Louza started having a shoving match well off the ball for a good 10 seconds or so, before their squabble was interrupted. Both players were booked by referee Leigh Doughty, and so too, City's goalkeeping coach Erbil Bozkurt.

Just before the break, City fashioned a decent opening with Slater and Kamara combining to slot Slater in down the right side of the box, he pulled it back to Pedro who saw a shot well-blocked from six yards out.

Watford were looking bright and carved out their best chance on the stroke of half-time when Vakoun Bayo turned wide at the near post from a terrific Chakvetadze cross off the left flank.

Chakvetadze came close to opening the scoring early in the second half when his delicious angled drive from 20 yards bent just over the angle of post and bar with Pandur grasping thin air, and almost immediately, City attacked with Slater capitalising on some hesitant defending, got to the dead-ball line before pulling it back for Longman who was well ushered out of it.

Palmer then set Pedro away down the right side and, despite a poor touch, sent a side towards the far corner which was turned behind by Bachmann, only for the flag to be raised, bizarrely, despite the linesman looking straight at the shot and save.

Watford, under heavy pressure, made two changes with Ngakia and Ince replaced by Ryan Andrews and Kwadwo Baah on the hour mark, and moments later, City had two chances in quick succession. First, Longman brilliantly won the ball inside the box, but shot thin air, and then the winger headed straight at Bachmann from a fine Coyle ball.

Selles made his first changes 24 minutes from time, with Mason Burstow and Marvin Mehlem coming on for Longman and Alzate, the latter putting in a decent display on his full debut. Burstow, like at Boro a ten days ago, almost had an instant impact, combining beautifully with Palmer to angle a shot across Bachmann, who saved well.

On came Chris Bedia for Pedro, while Moussa Sissoko replaced Edo Kayembe, with the flurry of changes halting the momentum City had fashioned in a dominant second half. Ex-Derby County man Festy Ebosele came on, and was booked for kicking the ball away, seconds after Kamara saw a shot at the near post blocked, and the winger was later booked himself for a late challenge.

Finally, the goal their play deserved came eight minutes from time when Bedia bundled the ball in from close range, finally, the bit of luck their play deserved. Just as it looked like three points, and a clean sheet would be forthcoming, Vata stepped off the bench to turn in from close range after City switched off, and Selles was forced to settle for a point, but he'll be encouraged by what he witness for the most part.

City: Pandur, Giles, Hughes, McLoughlin, Coyle (c), Alzate, Slater, Longman, Kamara, Palmer, Pedro; Subs: Racioppi, Mehlem, Bedia, Omur, Burns, Puerta, Drameh, Jarvis, Burstow

Watford: Bachmann, Ngakia, Sierralta, Porteous, Pollock, Ince, Chakvetadze, Louza, Bayo, Larouci, Kayembe; Subs: Bond (GK), Vata, Dwomoh, Sissoko, Doumbia, Morris, Baah, Ebosele, Andrews

Referee: Leigh Doughty

Attendance: 18,694