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Town 0-1 Hull City - Match Report
Tuesday, 23rd Feb 2016 21:55

Mohamed Diamé’s goal three minutes after the restart was enough to see leaders Hull City to a 1-0 victory over the Blues at Portman Road. Town went closest to scoring before the break when Daryl Murphy hit the post, but having gone in front the Tigers dominated the second half.

Mick McCarthy made three changes with top scorer Brett Pitman coming in up front and Jonathan Douglas and Luke Hyam returning to the central midfield roles in the anticipated 4-4-2 formation.

Douglas was back after a three-match ban and Hyam from a calf injury which had sidelined him for the last two games.

Kevin Bru and Kevin Foley both dropped to the bench, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles wasn’t in the 18.

Hull made nine changes from the team which drew 0-0 at Arsenal in the FA Cup on Saturday with only Curtis Davies and David Meyler keeping their places.

Freddie Sears created the game’s first excitement in the sixth minute when he broke past Andrew Robertson down the Town right but his cross was too deep for strike pair Pitman and Murphy.

There was a scare for the Blues in the 10th minute when Tommy Smith got the ball caught under his feet and lost possession to Abel Hernández not far outside the area on the left.

The New Zealand international hauled the Uruguayan down as he looked to break into the box with only Bartosz Bialkowski to beat and was perhaps fortunate not to see a yellow card.

Robert Snodgrass took the freekick and sent it curling away from Bialkowski to his left, but the on-form Polish keeper got across to superbly tip it past the post.

Hull had most of the ball in the opening 20 minutes but with the freekick their only chance, while the Blues occasionally threatened to create an opening on the break.

On 25 Hernández shot over, then Smith did superbly to block a Diamé effort from the left of the area after he had appeared to have got away from the Town central defender.

A minute later, the Blues claimed a penalty when Pitman looked to be shoved as a Sears cross came over from the left. The ball was bundled out of play and from Pringle’s corner Berra’s header was stabbed behind.


Town were by now in charge and on 27 Murphy saw a shot deflect wide, Hull subsequently making heavy weather of clearing the danger after the resultant corner.

In the 37th minute, the Blues went within a whisker of going in front. Pringle, the man on all Town’s set pieces, whipped in a near post freekick from the left, which skipper Luke Chambers headed against a defender.

The loose ball fell to Murphy, who lashed a shot which struck the inside of the post and flashed across the goalmouth before being cleared.

Five minutes later, another Pringle freekick from the left caused more danger, the ball falling to Chambers a few yards out but the Blues’ captain was unable to get in a clean strike and the ball looped harmlessly to Tigers keeper Allan McGregor.

Town were ended the half on top, Sears making a strong run through the middle before shooting over, then Douglas similarly went high with a strike from distance.

Hull had started the half the stronger side but with Snodgrass’s freekick, which was superbly saved by Bialkowski, their only chance.

Town grew into the game and by half-time were in charge and had created chances, several from Pringle’s excellent set pieces.

The visitors threatened first after the break, Berra blocked a Hernández strike and Bialkowski rather needlessly punched the loose ball away before David Meyler hit a low shot which the Blues keeper claimed more comfortably.

But the Championship leaders didn’t have to wait too long to go in front. Robertson played in Diamé between two Town defenders and the striker dinked it over BIalkowski and into the net.

The Senegalese international almost immediately shot over and then Chambers blocked brilliantly from Meyler as the visitors took control of the game.

On 52, Bialkowski saved superbly from Sam Clucas, then one-time Blues loanee Jack Livermore smashed the rebound against the post.

The Tigers had dominated since the goal, passing the ball around confidently and looking likely to add to their lead, but on 59 Chambers caused McGregor an awkward moment with a cross-shot from the right which the keeper was pleased to see fly just over his bar.

In the 64th minute, with the visitors still on top, Kevin Bru replaced Hyam, who had suffered a knock. Five minutes later, as Hull swapped Hernández for Chuba Akpom, Pringle and Sears switched flanks.

Hull continued to control the game comfortably and might have increased their lead in the 75th minute when Moses Odubajo got behind the Blues’ backline on the right but crossed poorly and Chambers cleared.

Two minutes later, there were calls for a Town penalty when Douglas went to ground as he took a bouncing ball into the area but mainly from the stands and referee Malone quickly waved the claims away.

In the 79th minute Luke Varney took over from Pringle, who was warmly applauded off after an impressive home debut.

Soon after, Davies headed across the face of goal from a Snodgrass freekick when it seemed easier to score. Two minutes later at the other end, Pitman curled a freekick wide.

Town were finally beginning to get more of a foothold in the game and on 85 Murphy headed a Chambers cross from the right well wide. Two minutes later, Smith was booked for puling back Akpom.

As the game moved into three minutes of added on time, Sears forced McGregor to save down to his right after he had chested down and hit a low shot.

And from the corner the Blues almost grabbed an unlikely equaliser, Smith heading over under pressure at the far post. But there were no further chances before referee Malone blew the final whistle.

Having ended the first half the better side, the Blues never got going after the break with Hull scoring their goal only three minutes after the restart.

From there they dominated and looked every bit this season’s Championship title winners in waiting and they might have won more comfortably with Livermore coming close to a second when he hit the post and Davies heading across the face when he should have scored.

Town rarely threatened until the closing stages and will feel they ought to have taken their opportunities during their spell on top before the break when Murphy went closest when he struck an upright.

The result sees the end of the Blues’ 16-game, three-year long Tuesday night home run with the Blues now having lost four of their last five matches in all competitions.

Town, who are down to 10th in the table, now six points off the play-offs, next travel to Huddersfield, who drew 1-1 away against the MK Dons this evening, on Saturday.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Douglas, Hyam (Bru 64), Pringle (Varney 79), Sears, Pitman, Murphy. Unused: Gerken, Digby, Foley, Tabb, Touré.

Hull City: McGregor, Odubajo, Dawson (c), Davies, Robertson, Snodgrass, Meyler (Huddlestone 87), Livermore, Clucas, Diamé (Powell 84), Hernández (Akpom 69). Unused: Jakupović, Maguire, Maloney, Elmohamady. Referee: Brendan Malone (Wiltshire). Att: 17,630 (Hull City: 393).


Photo: Action Images



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rendoblue added 21:59 - Feb 23
Same old same old, no football, no midfield, season over, thanks for letting a promising season go down the pan rapidly ME. One nil down, put last season top scorer on the right wing. Weaker than Hull all over the pitch. You may be happy with your squad MM but I for one am not. Freddie sears please don't leave us.lol
47

Toronto_Tractor added 22:02 - Feb 23
Time to throw some youngsters in the mix?
9

Suffolk_n_Good added 22:02 - Feb 23
Another dreary performance, more McCarthy excuses, another week were we slip further into mediocrity, another week we regret not investing in January...... #seasonover
39

WaffleMan added 22:04 - Feb 23
Same Old Same Old.
14

Bubba32 added 22:05 - Feb 23
Mid-table mediocrity. Poor team, poor performance. Completely out of their league.
Let's regroup and look at going again next season. You never know we might get up
4

Ipswichlove added 22:05 - Feb 23
SEARS NEEDS TO BE UPFRONT NOT ON THE WING

CHAMBERS ISNT A RIGHTBACK

KNUSDEN ISNT GOOD ENOUGH

and we need to play ATTACKING football mick
35

Suffolk_n_Good added 22:07 - Feb 23
Why the eck McCarthy insists on keep starting with Murphy is beyond me, Sears has to be given a run of games up front with Pitman
20

cartman1972 added 22:07 - Feb 23
FO McCarthy and Evans had enough of your lack of enterprise, fed up seeing all the teams around us invest and us doing absolutely nothing cos we have a squad strong and skillful enough. Wake up and smell the coffee yet another season that will end with sweet FA.... I'd prefer it if we went down might blood some young entrepreneurial chairman to take over this sorry club. Rant over
4

TractorCam added 22:07 - Feb 23
No plan B as always. We were actually half decent first half, as soon as they scored did anyone actually expect us to score? We just carried on playing the hoof game and Hull were basically in a training session. The usual "throw all 4 strikers on the pitch" worked a treat again. Varney for Pringle? Why when Murphy was a ghost the whole match.

I can't see us getting in the top 6 now but if we really want it looking at the next 3 fixtures we need 9 points with the run in at the end
14

Jimmy86 added 22:10 - Feb 23
Hull will go straight up and you'd certainly expect them to as well. 1 real moment of quality won the game and it was a class finish. Hull were able to go up a few extra gears if needed too. Shame we didn't take our chances in the first half as until that point Hull didn't have any real clear cut chances. Jonathan Douglas was absolutely diabolical and was a passenger throughout the game and deserved to be subbed. Sears is wasted out wide and get shunted from pillar to post. Play off hopes perhaps over and a shame our Tues night record is now over
10

bluefeast added 22:11 - Feb 23
We are suffering because we make the same mistakes as each week passes , that mistake is MM , picking the wrong side etc etc ,he's an idiot , if its not broke don't fix it ,it is broke so what now MM ????
8

yungblue added 22:11 - Feb 23
Why are people still happy with Mick McCarthy, for three years we have been treated to nothing but shocking football, before we got results but this season even our results have been poor, surely the fans have to start showing this on match days etc, we deserve better
18

blue86 added 22:12 - Feb 23
lol next manager for us should be Bill Murray! Groundhog Day springs to mind! Cmon town sort it out six points off the playoffs now, not looking good. Coyb
2

Kesgraveblue57 added 22:12 - Feb 23
A result I expected side we put out did well enough it was just a question of class
2

essexboy added 22:12 - Feb 23
We were outplayed in every department.Not ONE shot on target.Terrible.Where is the midfield,nobody has a clue as to how to create a forward pass.Sears was the only lad to impress and Bart once again saved us.Perhaps now some of you can at last put your hands up and say MM is not the man to take us forward.What a big shame this season has been after expectations were so high last August.We all want Town to get promoted and entertain,but I'm afraid not with this management.
26

bluefeast added 22:13 - Feb 23
Hull are coached , we do not look like we are
12

bluefeast added 22:14 - Feb 23
hope we lose the next 10 if that what it takes to get rid of numb nuts
-10

warktheline added 22:15 - Feb 23
Fact is we come up short the majority of times when it truly matters. That my friends, is undeniable!!
9

Ruddockclyro added 22:16 - Feb 23
A team who will probably finish 1st or 2nd has beaten us and everyone acts like we've just lost against a team who are 24th and haven't won for 5 games. We're still around the playoffs however the likes of Preston are starting to creep around the playoff places. We didn't actually play that badly tonight, obviously not well enough to win the game but still felt we didn't disgrace ourselves. We can still do it, i still believe in the team, let's get behind the boys. COYB.
-24

TractorBoy666 added 22:18 - Feb 23
I'm not going to bother talking about the performance tonight as I seem to be saying the same thing every week and quite frankly I'm bored of myself!

However I've lost every bit of patience with ME, who for me needs to either sell up and do one or start investing some money into players. It makes me laugh when people talk about how he's put so much into the club for Keane & Jewell, I thought this mystery owner was worth millions??? Remember we also have made some of those millions back. Has Mick turned down money from ME? Of course he hasn't, but if he has then I'd be even more worried.

So a very well done ME on yet another wasted season when we had every chance to get into that top six, because let's be honest we overachieved last season.

On a rare positive, I thought Pringle looked decent tonight and I am very glad Bart has signed a new deal who I thought was again outstanding tonight. Sears put in 100% as per usual but is wasted out on the wings.
30

itfcbam added 22:19 - Feb 23
"Wake up and smell the coffee". Average wage of Hull player easily double that of ours. Higher attendence, parachute payments all advantages in their favour yet most expect us to beat them??!! Sorry I must be the deluded one.
Also we have no money. We lose 6mill give or take yet we expect more investment?? Sorry again I must be deluded.
I hate this as much as anyone but reality needed.
-8

grumpyoldman added 22:19 - Feb 23
Just think with his new contract only another two years left to suffer. I absolutely hate the fact that this club is going nowhere fast, only those with totally blue tinted glasses can honestly believe MM is stil doing a good job. What facts do they use to back up their claims, yes he did well when he first came, but you can only live on past glories for a limited time.
9

Deep_Blue added 22:22 - Feb 23
Head in the clouds, Ruddockclyro.

Your deluded optimism is not going to change the fact that we're an average team with a dinosaur for a manager who has no fresh ideas and is quite happy taking his wedge of Evans' apathetic regime.

Depressing.
22

grumpyoldman added 22:24 - Feb 23
Just read itfcbam, good point, about money, what parachute payment did Preston, Boro, Brighton get, how big are their attendances.
9

bluefeast added 22:25 - Feb 23
lost 5 from 6 , thats not deluded ,the rot has set in and Mick has no ideas at all ,where are we heading ,how are we developing and does the future look bright or dull ,that my friends is sadly easy to answer
19


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