Wayne Rooney stands alone in Ainsley Maitland-Niles verdict after Everton draw vs Hull
The Toffees travelled to the MKM Stadium on Sunday, drawing 2-2 with the Tigers after an end-to-end contest.
Joe Gelhardt put the hosts ahead early in the second 45, but Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall headed the Blues back on level terms.
Thierno Barry made amends for missing several big chances earlier in the game when he put David Moyes' side in the lead with just over 20 minutes to go.
However, several mistakes led to Mohamed Belloumi putting Hull back on level terms, and though it kept the Toffees' unbeaten run in the Premier League alive, Moyes declared it two points dropped.
Maitland-Niles has received plenty of criticism for his defending in both of the goals Everton conceded, but Rooney has picked out the good moments from the right-back.
Wayne Rooney goes against grain with Ainsley Maitland-Niles praise
Maitland-Niles had a stunning start to his Everton career after that long-range strike against Manchester United on his debut.
He was never the top right-back target for Angus Kinnear and Co., but has proven to be competent in the Premier League so far.
However, many Evertonians would agree that his performance against Hull was perhaps his worst for the Blues.
However, he got the assist that put his side on level terms after putting the ball on a plate for Dewsbury-Hall to score.
Speaking on BBC's Match of the Day, Rooney had nothing negative to say about Maitland-Niles, and said: "This is a fantastic pass, really clever pass and then Dewsbury-Hall with a good finish.
"Now they're confident; they've got that belief they can win the game. Maitland-Niles putting the pressure on, Armstrong putting the pressure on and winning the ball back."
The 29-year-old didn't win his battle out wide with Elliot Stroud before the Hull winger got the ball into the box for Belloumi to put past Jordan Pickford.
This is where most of his criticism stemmed from, as former Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld did have something to say about the Everton full-back.
He said: "You come 2-1 up with 10 minutes to play and you concede a goal like this. You cannot defend naive like Maitland-Niles is doing here; this ball needs to go into the stands."
Alderweireld also claimed that three mistakes happened from an Everton perspective in the build-up to Hull's goal, with Maitland-Niles, Jarrad Branthwaite and Pickford all to blame.
What Everton fans may now fear
Everton spent so long trying to sign a right-back in the summer after Jake O'Brien spent last season covering in the position.
The Republic of Ireland international was made available for transfer with weeks to go in the summer window, and though there was plenty of interest across Europe, a move didn't transpire.
However, Moyes trusts the centre-back's defensive qualities, even though he offers virtually nothing going forward.
Maitland-Niles' defensive frailties against Hull may have spooked Moyes, as O'Brien replaced the right-back in the 78th minute.
The Everton boss may now start to play O'Brien at right-back again, something that supporters may not want to see, even after a poor performance from Maitland-Niles.