Okocha mauls grumbling Tigers fans

JAY-JAY Okocha fears expectation levels have been pushed unrealistically high at Hull after feeling it necessary to issue a mild rebuke to the club’s supporters.

The vastly experienced midfielder aired his concerns that frustrations from the stands are having an adverse effect on the pitch after the hosts were jeered-off in each half despite stretching their league run to a single defeat in 11 games.

Fraizer Campbell headed in Okocha’s free-kick midway through the second-half to cancel out Johnnie Jackson’s stunning 20-yard half-volley which found the target via the underside of the bar as Hull fought back for the third consecutive match to earn a draw.

It leaves them only four points adrift of the play-offs, a vast improvement on this time last year when they were fighting a dour relegation battle.

Okocha feels many fans have lost sight of this transformation in fortunes, and he warned: “If we’re going to meet our expectations we need the fans right behind us and we need them more when things don’t go well.”

The former Bolton Wanderers playmaker admits the players are starting to feel the pressure in their attempts to propel Hull into the top flight for the first time in the club’s history.

He added: “We’re close to taking the club to the next level and a lot of the players are playing under pressure. The fans didn’t help, but I can understand that because they’re desperate to see us in the play-offs.

“We’re human beings and if you feel under pressure and that fans will boo you when you make a mistake, then you’ll make a mistake.”

Colchester have lost just once in seven league games since the turn of the year to give fresh impetus to their attempts to stave off relegation.

Keeper Dean Gerken produced fine saves to deny Ryan France, former Colchester centre-back Wayne Brown and to prevent defender Chris Coyne from heading an own goal to earn a draw which leaves them a point shy of safety.

“We’re determined teams won’t take points off us without a fight,” Geraint Williams, the manager, said.

HULL CITY (4-4-2): Myhill 7, Ricketts 7, Turner 6, Brown 6, Pedersen 4, France 5, Ashbee 6, Walton 5 (Folan 46, 6), Okocha 6, Barmby 4 (Marney 16, 6), Campbell 6.

Subs Not Used: Tyler, Doyle, Featherstone.

COLCHESTER (4-4-2): Gerken 8, Ifil 7, Coyne 6, Virgo 5 (Granville 46, 5), White 5, Duguid 6, Izzet 6, Jackson 8, McLeod 5, Vernon 7, Platt 6.

Subs Not Used: Cousins, Watson, Sheringham, Guttridge.

REFEREE: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)6 : Showed far more consistency in his display than most of the players and can be happy with his afternoon’s work.

MATCH RATING: ** The kind of non-contest that really tests a spectator’s will to live. The beautiful game at its most pock-marked.