Jules Ahoka Shines on Debut in Impressive Display Against Hull
Jules Ahoka ran the game on debut, Chemsdine Talbi lit it up with a moment of real class, and a largely youthful side produced a controlled, quietly impressive display against Hull.
This was a night about new faces looking like they belonged.
Ahoka runs the show
From the first whistle, Jules Ahoka looked like he’d been in the middle of this team for years. He took the ball on the half-turn, dictated the tempo, and always seemed to be where the danger was about to develop – both with and without the ball.
He earned a 9/10 and the Man of the Match award, and it was hard to argue. Everything went through him. Short passes to knit play together, sharp vertical balls to split the lines, and a couple of lovely diagonals that stretched Hull and dragged them out of shape. He even came close to capping it with a debut goal, his header from a corner clawed away by the goalkeeper. At the other end he was just as sharp, reading danger early and winning his duels in the air.
On this evidence, the midfield has a new heartbeat.
Talbi’s touch of class
Ahead of him, Chemsdine Talbi played as if the No 10 role had always been his. He buzzed between the lines, drifted into pockets on both flanks and, when the chance came, showed the composure of a seasoned finisher.
Released by Thomas Meunier on the break, Talbi sized up the goalkeeper and coolly lifted a brilliant chip over him. It was the standout moment of the night, a goal full of confidence and awareness. He could have had another, too, stepping inside on a later counter and forcing a fine save.
He walked away with an 8/10 and the sense that he’s not far from making that position his own.
Solid platform at the back
Behind them, there was calm more than chaos.
Melker Ellborg, rated 6/10, had a relatively undemanding evening. He made one tidy save from a free kick, pushing the ball wide, and while he was a touch slow off his line on a couple of occasions after his centre-backs left balls for him, Hull never truly punished it.
In front of him, Luke O’Nien had one early scare. A clumsy challenge in the box might easily have brought a penalty, but once he escaped that moment he settled and cruised through the rest of the game for his 6/10.
Omar Alderete matched that rating. His defending was strong, particularly in the air, but his passing veered from useful to erratic. A few overhit crosses drifted out at the far post and a late underhit pass to Trai Hume sparked a Hull counter, the one blot on an otherwise solid defensive night.
On the flanks, the full-backs did their share of the heavy lifting. Dayann Methalie, aggressive and front-foot in his defending, earned 7/10. He stuck tight to his man, snapped into challenges and, after a slightly nervy first half in possession, grew into the game with some powerful runs forward after the break.
Hume, also given 7/10, enjoyed a quietly commanding evening on both sides of the pitch. He started at right-back, finished at left-back after Methalie’s substitution, and never looked flustered. His best attacking moment came from that left side, bursting forward after neat work from Malick Fofana and delivering a dangerous cross.
Midfield energy and growing influence
Alongside Ahoka, Chris Rigg produced a busy, intelligent 7/10 performance. He got up and down the right channel, linking with Jocelin Ta Bi and helping to lead the press. When a free kick opportunity arrived in a promising position, he struck it well but saw it sail over.
Ta Bi himself had a mixed night, summed up by a 6/10. In the first half he struggled to find the ball in areas that hurt Hull, and when Rigg did slide him in, he lashed his shot well over. After the interval, though, he found his rhythm. His trickery began to tell, Hull defenders resorting to dragging him down as he turned them inside out and won a string of free kicks.
Quiet graft in attack
It was a more understated evening for the front line.
Malick Fofana, also rated 6/10, barely featured in the early stages. Once Methalie departed and Hume shifted to the left, something clicked. Fofana showed quick feet under pressure and slipped a lovely pass into Hume’s overlapping run. He also played a part at the other end in the goal, winning an important header on the edge of his own box to help launch the move.
Wilson Isidor put in the hard yards without the reward. His 6/10 reflected a night of willing running and half chances rather than clear openings. He headed one floated ball just over and dragged another effort wide, but his work in the channels kept Hull’s back line honest.
Bench impact
The substitutes did exactly what was asked of them.
Thomas Meunier, on for a 7/10 cameo, wasted no time making his mark. His ball over the top for Talbi’s goal was perfectly weighted, inviting the run and setting the stage for that deft chip.
Alan Browne stepped in as the side looked to close the game down and delivered a steady 6/10, keeping possession and helping to manage the tempo.
Timur Tutierov, also 6/10, offered an outlet on the break. He did lash one wild effort over from a tight angle, but his presence stretched Hull in the final stages.
Tom Proctor rounded off the changes with another 6/10 display. When he got on the ball he used it well, and without it he made sure Hull’s defenders felt his presence.
On a night when Talbi showed his cutting edge and several youngsters hinted at real promise, it was Ahoka who stole the spotlight. If this is his starting level, how high can he push this midfield as the season unfolds?
