Burnley 1-1 Hull City: Snoddy’s last gasp

10th September 2016 Saturday Turf Moor: City came very close to losing this, but a Snodgrass special free kick rescued the Tigers and gave them a precious point in the 95′.

The Clarets have been something of a bogey team to the KC outfit over the years and although the Tigers looked the better team at times it was the home side who went ahead after 72′ from Belgian Steven Defour their new midfield signing from Anderlecht, a stunning 25 yarder.

Solid displays from Snodgrass and Davies. Snoddy is a shining light and look too player for the Tigers and Curtis Davies is surely in the the best form of his life.

That’s 7 points from a possible 12, who would have dreamed of that!

The Mike Phelan Manager thing is now getting embarrassing for the club, Phelan, and all of us watching our dawdling, lost in the wilderness owners. They’ve already pissed off one great Manager this season, to do it twice requires Allam’s at their worst.

Mike Phelan:

“I’ve made it pretty clear I want to be in charge of this group of players.

I think the players have made it quite clear too,” he said. “At one point I thought we were playing really well, we might win the game and then it’s over to negotiations again…then at 1-0 down you think maybe not, maybe another week. “But I’m sure things will get resolved.

They probably will do, one way or another. “We haven’t fallen out or done anything drastic, we’re taking it day by day and hopefully another week doesn’t go by without it being resolved.”

“We suffered in the last minute in the last game (letting in a late goal against Manchester United).

“Credit to us as we kept going. The players did what we asked of them today.”

Stats via Opta and BBC

 

 

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Exeter City 1-3 Hull City: Greacians Outflanked

23rd August 2016 Tuesday St James Park: We expected a lot more changes to the team tonight because that is what we have come to expect from City.

However Mike Phelan kept his word and respect for the competition by putting out a competitive starting line-up. Not an easy thing for him to do under the current circumstances and he had every excuse to do a more wholesale change.

He did have reinforcements on the bench in Robertson, Snodgrass and Huddlestone…. they were needed.

Hernandez didn’t travel, which speaks volumes for him still wanting a new club, a deal which is close now.

Maguire was an obvious candidate in defence (for more than one reason) and there was no Curtis Davis.

Dusan Kuciak, Greg Olley and Jarrod Bowen all made a debut for the Tigers.

Exeter’s  Jake Taylor got the opening goal in the 24th minute with a strike from outside the box, but it was cancelled out two minutes later by Diomandé with a headed goal assisted by Maloney.

In the second half Diomandé struck again 77′ and finally Snodgrass 81′ sealed it with one of his free kicks.

Hull City: Dusan Kuciak, Ahmed Elmohamady, Jake Livermore, Harry Maguire, Josh Tymon (Andy Robertson 31), David Meyler, Shaun Maloney (Robert Snodgrass 77), Greg Olley, Adama Diomande, Jarrod Bowen, Greg Luer (Tom Huddlestone 57). Bench Unused: Will Mannion, Josh Clackstone, Harvey Rodgers, Ben Hinchliffe.

Exeter City: Christy Pym, Pierce Sweeney, Ethan Ampadu, Troy Brown, Craig Woodman (Connor Riley-Lowe 82), Jake Taylor (David Wheeler 82), Lloyd James, Jordan Tillson, Ryan Harley (Ollie Watkins 74), Liam McAlinden, Joel Grant. Bench Unused: James Hamon, Robbie Simpson, Matt Jay, Alex Byrne

Adama Diomandé got two goals for the Tigers

Match Stats

 

 

 

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Swansea 0-2 Hull City: Band of Brothers keep winning

20th August 2016 Saturday Liberty Stadium: City are making a difficult season look easy and the pundits are all over the place in what to say and write. Two wins from two games  = 3rd place in the EPL below the Manchester clubs on goal difference.

The Tigers were well worth this win with goals from Maloney 79′  nudging in from a deflected corner (on for Diomande 73′)  and Hernandez 93′ after an assist by Maloney. Hernandez seemingly wants away from our club…..he may have a change of heart.

Another good stint from Robert Snodgrass who is repaying the club for the loss of his services after joining us. But to be honest all this group had good games.

City are putting away chances when they really matter. Although they had a lot of defending to do, still managed to find time and opportunity to create chance after chance.

Possession at 43% isn’t bad for a Hull City away game in the EPL.

It’s likely that Exeter beckons for a few of the young faces on the Hull City bench this afternoon.

Once again Mike Phelan has done a great job…..what is Ehab waiting for?

Mike Phelan post match:

“We still are short on numbers and have to be realistic. It was a tremendous performance and the character of the group has been brilliant from day one.

“The difficulty to come here was to see if we could go after them or contain them. The players stuck to their task and we created more chances than them.”

Hull City: Eldin Jakupovic, Ahmed Elmohamady, Jake Livermore, Curtis Davies, Andy Robertson, Sam Clucas, David Meyler, Tom Huddlestone, Robert Snodgrass, Adama Diomande (Shaun Maloney 73), Abel Hernandez. Bench Unused: Dusan Kuciak, Josh Tymon, Jarrod Bowen, Greg Luer, Greg Olley, Josh Clackstone.

Swansea City: Lukasz Fabianski, Jordi Amat, Leroy Fer (Ki Sung-Yueng 68), Fernando Llorente, Wayne Routledge (Jefferson Montero 55), Modou Barrow (Nathan Dyer 85), Gylfi Sigurdsson, Jack Cork, Kyle Naughton, Federico Fernandez, Stephen Kingsley.
Bench Unused: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Angel Rangel, Jay Fulton, Mike Van Der Hoorn.

Match Stats

 

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Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Hull City:Second half goals keep City top

13th February 2016 Ewood Park: The Tigers found another gear in the second half of this game and the home side could not find a response.

In fact Blackburn didn’t have much to offer in this fixture…attacking ideas and flair being something missing today.

The partnership in attack of Hernandez and Diamé is now a feature of team selection and Steve Bruce’s philosophy of ‘don’t mend it if it’s not broken’ is paying dividends. A change though was the name of Tom Huddlestone in the starting line-up. I suppose Steve knows what he is doing.

Hernandez struck in the 53′ and Diamé just ten minutes later (albeit a shout for offside).

With Middlesbrough not playing until Sunday all Tigers fans eyes will be on the  result as a win for them will see them return to the top.

Fifty nine points now and things are looking good with a fully fit squad to choose from for the games to come.

Burnley ended their unbeaten winning run of eight games with a draw a Reading, but it’s still as tight as a nuns bum at the top of this league.

Steve Bruce was pleased with the performance when he spoke after the match…

“We’ve missed two or three chances late on which could have improved our goal difference but we thoroughly deserved the win in my opinion.

“I thought we were playing within ourselves in the first half and I wanted us to go and express ourselves and take the shackles off.

“We knew we had more in the tank and I thought in the second half we gave a very good performance where we could have scored three or four.

“That’s as good as we’ve played for a long time.”

Hull City: Allan McGregor, Moses Odubajo, Curtis Davies, Tom Huddlestone, Abel Hernandez (Chuba Akpom 75′), Robert Snodgrass (Ahmed Elmohamady 81′), Sam Clucas, Jake Livermore, Mohamed Diamé (David Meyler 85′), Michael Dawson, Andrew Robertson.

Blackburn Rovers: Jason Steele, Ben Marshall, Elliott Ward, Shane Duffy, Tommy Spurr, Corry Evans, Craig Conway, Darragh Lenihan, Jordi Gomez, Tony Watt (Chris Brown 55′), Simeon Jackson (Elliott Bennett 73′).

 

 

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Fulham 0-1 Hull City : Hernandez strikes again with penalty

23rd Jan 2016 Craven Cottage: The three points from this game took the Tigers to the top of the Championship.

This was the same line-up which beat Charlton last week.

Hernandez had a good chance on 12′ following a good through ball by Diamé, but it was just got a foot to it and the ball went wide. It was his 15th league goal of the season.

Abel Hernandez finally scored in the 80′ from the spot following a foul on Moses Odubajo.

This was the fourth win on the trot for Steve Bruce’s boys and we lead the table by one point from Middlesbrough.

City always looked like getting over the line for this one as Fulham showed less than what we expected.

Steve Bruce said after the game…

“You have to show a certain resilience, especially in the middle of winter coming to places like this.

“Fulham played well today but we were always comfortable.

“We know we are always capable of scoring a goal.

“The ability to roll up your sleeves and give nothing away is what you need to be successful. It’s not all about playing nice football.”

Hull City: Allan McGregor, Moses Odubajo, Curtis Davies, Abel Hernandez (Ahmed Elmohamady 85), Robert Snodgrass (Alex Bruce 90), Sam Clucas, Harry Maguire, Jake Livermore, Mohamed Diamé, Isaac Hayden (Tom Huddlestone 71), Andrew Robertson.

Bench Unused: Eldin Jakupovic, Ryan Taylor, Shaun Maloney, Sone Aluko.

Fulham: Andrew Lonergan, Jazz Richards, Dan Burn, Tim Ream, Luke Garbutt, Tom Cairney, Lasse Vigen Christensen (Matt Smith 83), Jamie O’Hara, Scott Parker (Emerson Hyndman 77), Alexander Kacaniklic (George Williams 73), Moussa Dembele.

 Bench Unused: Joe Lewis, Shaun Hutchinson, Richard Stearman, Ryan Fredericks.

 

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Hull City 2-0 Cardiff City : Tigers form inproves

13th January 2016 KC Stadium : Hull took advantage of a poor Cardiff display to go back to second place in Championship with goals from Hernandez (penalty 40′) and the reliable Clucas 51′.

It is something of a relief to see two decent performances in a row from Steve Bruce’s boys after flattering to deceive at the end of last year against Rotherham and Preston  Still, to be 2nd in this competitive league is no mean feat.

The Tigers struggled at times to produce something but later on got going and it could have been a much bigger win with a few chances going begging. That is a trait in this squad and if we ever get more clinical in the box some team is in for a hiding.

Otherwise a good all round performance.

Steve Bruce commented:

“It’s a wonderful achievement for a team that’s just been relegated, to have 50 points from 26 games,” said Bruce, whose side now turn their attentions to hosting Charlton on Saturday.

“There’s a long way to go. When it gets down to 10 and nine games left, let’s hope we’re around it.

“Our home form has been terrific. We’ve got another game at home on Saturday and we have to keep going.

“I don’t attach anything to being second, not at this stage. In two or three months time, that’s when it matters.”

“I wouldn’t say it was easy but we were comfortable without being at our best….Once we got the first goal it became increasingly comfortable as the night wore on.

“We needed a helping hand but I’ve seen it again and it’s a clear-cut penalty. I thought the referee was spot on with his decision.

“Our Achilles heel has been taking the chances again. We need to be a bit more clinical in front of goal.

“I was pleased with the second half. We just needed to settle and take one of the chances. Thankfully we did that with Hernandez and from that moment on there looked to be only one winner.”

“I would love to go and smash the transfer record and bring in a proven striker but I don’t think the finances are there to do that,” 

“In that respect it becomes more difficult. They’ve got to be better than what we’ve got. Bringing in a centre-forward is not always the answer but if there’s someone available on loan, that looks like the market we’re trying to use.”

Hull City: McGregor; Odubajo, Maguire, Davies, Robertson, Elmohamady, Livermore (Hayden 75′), Meyler, Clucas, Diamé (Aluko 82′), Hernandez (Huddlestone 68).

Cardiff City: Marshall; Peltier, Manga, Connolly, Malone, Noone, Gunnarsson, Ralls, Pilkington; Watt (Macheda 82′) Mason (Ameobi 61′).

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Hull City 1-0 Brighton : Tigers go back in the hat

9th January 2016 KC Stadium – The Tigers progressed to the 4th round of the FA Cup via a sound home win over Brighton.

Robert Snodgrass slotted in a penalty in the 41′ following a foul on Harry Maguire by the Seagulls Lewis Dunk.

Stats cannot tell everything about a game but this time they come near. City managed 18 shots to Brighton’s two. OK only 7 were on target but the visitors had none on target. Although they managed to hit the crossbar in the dying minutes of the game.

As expected both teams rested players and it was the usual turn for Jakupovic to get between the sticks and Taylor, Huddlestone, Hayden, Diomande and Aluko all got starts. Plus Luer had to replace the injured Diomande after 51′.

Brighton have not won in the last 7 games and seem to be struggling.

Post match Steve Bruce said

“We’ve seen Snoddy produce a performance to show us what we’ve missed. A big pat on the back to him and I have to say to my medical staff. It’s been one of these complicated injuries. He has been terrific.”

“I’ve said repeatedly one of the reasons why we are not in the big league is the loss of our big players.”

Hull City: Eldin Jakupovic, Moses Odubajo, Ryan Taylor, Curtis Davies, Tom Huddlestone, Robert Snodgrass, Harry Maguire, Isaac Hayden, Sone Aluko (Sam Clucas 85), Adama Diomande (Greg Luer 51), Andrew Robertson. Bench Unused: Allan McGregor, David Meyler, Abel Hernandez, Mohamed Diamé, Ahmed Elmohamady.

Brighton: Niki Maenpaa, Lewis Dunk, Andrew Crofts, Inigo Calderon (Kazenga Lualua 63), Connor Goldson, Elvis Manu (Tomer Hemed 76), Danny Holla (Sam Baldock 57), Rohan Ince, Adam Chicksen, Richie Towell, Liam Ridgewell. Bench Unused: Casper Ankergren, James Murphy, Bobby Zamora, Robert Hunt.

 

 

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Hull City and Swansea Fined by The FA

Swansea City and Hull City have both been fined £20,000 by the Football Association for failing to control their players after both clubs pleaded guilty.

The FA who are impotent in most things love to dish out this sort of stuff for minor scuffles.

The clubs were charged by the FA earlier this week and have now been punished following a scuffle that broke out when the sides faced each other in a 1-1 draw at the Liberty Stadium on December 9.

Hull striker Yannick Sagbo and Swansea defender Ashley Williams clashed with around 10 minutes remaining in the game at the Liberty Stadium and a minor melee ensued.

The FA’s official website said: “Swansea City and Hull City have both been fined £20,000 following a mass confrontation between the two sides. The clubs each admitted a charge of failing to ensure that its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion. This follows an incident in the 80th minute of their fixture on December 9 2013.”

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Hull City 0-0 Stoke City – Begovic Keeps Potters In The Game

14th December 2014 Saturday KC Stadium – The Tigers dominated the first half of this match with the 3-5-2 set up, but during the second half a resurgent Stoke had Hull City hanging on and were no doubt pleased to come away with a share of the points.

Bosnian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic (who had to prove his fitness before the start) made some fantastic saves particularly from Elmohamady and Sagbo, without him Hull may well have pocketed 3 points.

The Tigers desperately need more strike power but the 4 first class serves made by Begovic were crucial to the final score. He completed 100% of his attempted punches and claims for the ball.

Hull City: McGregor, Elmohamady, Figueroa, Davies, Bruce (Brady 67′), Chester, Livermore, Meyler (Rosenior 78′), Graham (Boyd 82′), Sagbo, Huddlestone. Bench: Rosenior, Koren, Brady, McShane, Boyd, Harper, Faye.

Referee Mike Dean

Attendance: 23,324

Stats: Opta via BBC, and Squawka.

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Swansea 1-1 Hull City ~ Tigers robbed at “Liberty”

9th December 2013 Tuesday Night – Referee Martin Atkinson did the Tigers no favours in this game and missed two hand balls by Swansea players. One when they scored the equaliser and another clear one that should have given us a penalty.

City stand 12th with 18 points after 15 games, almost half way to that 40 points mark which should be safe ground in this league.

City enjoyed the usual 34% possession in both halves which is becoming a signature of their play at home or away. They pose a lot of problems to the attacking side and in the first half Swansea couldn’t find the key to defeat the visitors.

Danny Graham took his long awaited goal well in just over 8 minutes and was sensible enough not to celebrate too much for the end of his 30 game drought.  No doubt thinking that could wait for the dressing room at the end of the game or on the way home. Elmo beat his man (something he did regularly) and put in a great cross from the right which was just missed by the raised foot of the defender and Danny alongside him prodded it in at close range.

The rest of the half was mostly Swansea trying to get forward but failing to do anything dangerous, thanks to a good organised defence and some excellent defending. Davies, Chester and Bruce all excellent. Yannick Sagbo was very lively and showed some good touches.

At the first half whistle Swansea had achieved no shots on target but 6 corners, we had managed 33% possession, one shot on target (the goal) and no corners.

Half time Swansea 0-1 Hull City

Swansea came out of the blocks quicker in the second half and looked likely to get something, and in the few minutes before they scored you had a feeling it was coming. When it arrived on 60 minutes however their goal should have been disallowed. James Chester conceded a corner and when the ball finally came in at the near post Chico seemed to have both hands available at the right time and the ball ricocheted into the goal. None of the officials turned a hair and the one with a whistle awarded the “goal”.

Swansea carried on in their new lively fashion but City stuck to the task, and came back fairly strongly before the last 15 minutes which included quite a bit of pressure from the home side.

David Meyler had the ball in the the home goal but was flagged offside, which he was (Marginally). City had a strong penalty appeal when Dwight Tiendalli hand-balled Alex Bruce‘s header but Martin Atkinson seemed to have forgotten that rule and we got nowt, even though the defender brought both his hands up to his chest and punched the ball away. No consistency in this league, none whatsoever.

Sagbo and Williams were both booked in the 80 minute after a bit of sillyness over who should have the ball after a whistle.

So after 4 minutes of extra time in which City hung on a bit with come away with a point. We haven’t done too well away from the KC this time in the premiership in fact we have only won 1 away game in our last 31 away in this league. Quite a stat.

Hull City: McGregor, Elmohamady,Figueroa, Davies, Bruce, Chester, Livermore, Meyler, Graham (Koren 64′), Sagbo, Huddlestone. Bench: Rosenior, Koren, Brady, McShane, Boyd, Harper, Faye.

Swansea: Tremel, Tiendalli, Davies, Canas, Chico, Williams, Dyer, DeGusman (Pozuelo 56’), Michu, Shelvey, Hernandez (Routledge). Bench: Amat, Taylor, Lamah, Routledge, Pozuelo, Donnelly, Zabret.

Referee Martin Atkinson.  Attendance 19,303.

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