Football: See yer Lita

LEROY LITA'S 20th goal of the season rescued a point for Bristol City in a thrilling game at the KC Stadium.

Nick Barmby volleyed the Tigers ahead but Lita scored soon after to give City a deserved draw from an end-to-end game.

It left Hull boss Peter Taylor full of praise for the striker who had just denied him three points.

He said: "We had more chances than them, but their front two were a big threat and they kept us on our toes,.

"I'll take Leroy Lita and Steve Brooker off their hands if they don't want them.

"I was looking for us to get the second goal, but we didn't manage it."

Bristol City player-boss Brian Tinnion was delighted with the attitude of his team, who had lost at home to Chesterfield eight days earlier.

Tinnion said: "I'm very proud of them because it is a difficult place to come and we had to work hard.

"Hull put us under pressure, but we defended properly and I was delighted with the response because we came out fighting."

The Tigers dominated the opening exchanges - but it took a fantastic save from Boaz Myhill to prevent them going behind. Brooker found himself in space and hit a fine shot which Myhill did brilliantly to keep out.

Hull came straight back, although Stuart Green's mishit shot was easily gathered by Steve Phillips. Kevin Ellison then lashed a 25- yard shot high over the bar.

Orr sent a volley wide as Bristol City began to settle down and came back into the game.

And Myhill again had to be at his best to prevent Tinnion from giving his side the lead.

The player-boss then struck a sweet left-footed shot from 20 yards but Myhill turned his effort around the post.

The Robins began to enjoy the better of the game, but an Ellison cross caused panic in their defence, although Junior Lewis shot weakly.

The Tigers came within inches of taking the lead seven minutes before the interval when Green's drilled shot came back off the woodwork.

Lita then hit the woodwork two minutes into the second half when he rose highest to meet Orr's free-kick.

Phillips tipped Barmby's shot around the post before the former England international broke the deadlock when he superbly volleyed home Robbie Stockdale's cross from the right.

The Tigers almost doubled their lead on the re-start but Tinnion cleared Green's shot.

The Robins drew level when Brooker played Lita in and the youngster made no mistake in firing home his 15th league goal of the season.

It took a brilliant last- minute save from Phillips, however, to deny Hull when he turned Lewis header around his post.

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