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Ipswich Town 0-2 Hull City - Match Report
Saturday, 30th Mar 2019 17:02

Kamil Grosicki netted a goal in each half as Hull City defeated the Blues 2-0 at Portman Road. Town saw plenty of the ball throughout and had the ball cleared off the line twice in the first half but the Tigers were far more clinical with Polish international Grosicki taking opportunities in the 14th and 49th minutes and the visitors never looked in much trouble once they had established their two-goal lead.

The Blues were without Matthew Pennington, who has suffered a season-ending ankle injury, and Teddy Bishop, while Collin Quaner dropped to the bench.

Pennington, who has been on loan for the season from Everton, was replaced at the centre of the defence by Toto Nsiala, while Cole Skuse returned alongside Jon Nolan and Trevoh Chalobah for Bishop in midfield. Up front, Kayden Jackson started.

Hull made four changes with Todd Kane, Eric Lichaj, Jordy de Wijs and Dan Batty coming into the side.

Town made the early running, winning a number of corners in the opening minutes but without seriously testing Tigers goalkeeper and skipper David Marshall.

Hull threatened for the first time on 10, when Blues skipper Luke Chambers diverted a header from a Kamil Grosicki freekick wide.

Soon after, Jackson Irvine’s shot from the edge of the box looped goalwards under the bar but was confidently claimed by Bartosz Bialkowski.

However, in the 14th minute the Tigers went ahead. A low ball in from the right was cleverly dummied by Marc Pugh and found its way to Fraizer Campbell, who fed Grosicki to his left and the Polish international struck a low shot which Nsiala was unable to prevent from hitting the net.

Town suffered a further blow four minutes later when Jon Nolan was forced off with an injury following treatment on the pitch. Andre Dozzell replaced the Liverpudlian midfielder.

On 21 Myles Kenlock hit the Blues’ first shot of the afternoon having cut in from the left but sent the ball well over the bar with his right foot.

Eight minutes later, Gwion Edwards was booked for a late challenge on Lichaj, the Welshman appearing to have lost his footing as the ball was played forward.

As the game reached the half-hour mark the Blues began to get on top and dominate possession, with sub Dozzell and Alan Judge increasingly influential, however, as has become so familiar in recent months, without being able to create a clear-cut opportunity.

On 34 Judge’s cross from the right eventually fell to Edwards but his curled effort was too high, the Irishman having switched to the right and the Welshman to the left.


Town continued to press and three minutes later, a superb, curling Bree cross from the right reached Edwards at the far post but the winger was unable to get enough on the ball to direct it towards goal.

Soon after, Hull were forced into a change with Beccles-born former Canary Chris Martin taking over from the injured Campbell.

The game briefly fell flat with Hull winning a succession of freekicks around the halfway line before the Blues regained the upper hand and came very close to getting on terms.

After an excellent move down the right involving Judge, Chalobah and Dozzell, Bree sent over a cross which eventually fell to Jackson. The striker worked himself space and shot goalwards but the ball was blocked by Lichaj on the line blocked.

In four minutes of injury time, Jarrod Bowen hit a shot which deflected through to Bialkowski, then a wayward Kenlock pass led to a Hull attack but Nsiala slid in to block Pugh’s shot.

Seconds before the whistle Town had the ball cleared off the line for a second time. Judge whipped over a left-sided corner to the near post, Edwards flicked on towards goal but Pugh was on hand to clear.

The half had been a microcosm of most of the Blues’ recent performances. They had been good on the ball and on top for the most part but without having turned that superiority into goals at one end, while conceding disappointingly at the other.

However, Town could count themselves unlucky to be behind at the break on this occasion with Jackson and Edwards both having had the ball cleared off the line.

The Blues began the second half as the had ended the first on the front foot but five minutes after the restart the Tigers doubled their lead with Grosicki again the man on target.

Bowen brought the ball forward from very deep, beating Skuse just over the halfway line when it looked like Hull’s 21-goal top scorer had been dispossessed, before feeding Grosicki, who hit a low shot across Bialkowski and into the net off the inside of the post to claim his seventh of the season.

On 55 Town had a more than decent chance to get back on terms. Edwards picked up a loose Hull pass midway inside the Tigers half and found Judge, but the Irish international curled his shot wide.

The Blues threatened again in the 57th minute, a trademark clever Dozzell pass finding Jackson, who shot over from an angle to the right of goal.

Town continued to press and just after the hour mark Bree shot over from the right of the box. Seconds later, Quaner took over from Jackson, the German lining up on the left with Judge in the middle. On 63 Marshall was booked for time-wasting as the former Norwich man prepared to take a goalkick.

A minute later, Judge broke into the area on the left and sent in a low cross which Jordy de Wijs diverted only just past the near post.

Town had what looked a not too ambitious claim for a penalty in the 70th minute when Chalobah tried to take the ball past Todd Kane in the area and the ball appeared to strike his hand.

The Blues were continuing to take the game to Hull but without ever really convincing that they would grab the goal which would get them back in the game. The Tigers meanwhile were happy enough just to sit on their lead.

On 74 Idris El Mizouni was handed his home debut as a sub for Skuse, while the Tigers swapped the injured Reece Burke for Robbie McKenzie. Six minutes later De Wijs was yellow-carded for a foul.

In the 85th minute Bialkowski, largely a spectator since Hull’s second goal, was out quickly to claim at Bowen’s feet after a Hull break.

Town continued to huff and puff in the final minutes but without ever really looking like they would get the goal which would give them a foothold in the match. On the visitors swapped two-goal Grosicki for Evandro.

Sub El Mizouni hit a well-struck effort from the edge of the box which Marshall claimed comfortably on 88.

In injury time Pugh almost made it 3-0 when he curled a shot on to the post following a Hull break, then at the other end Quaner’s low shot was saved down to his right by Marshall.

Soon after, with the home support still singing loudly and getting behind their team, referee John Brooks’s whistle confirmed the Tigers’ victory and the extension of the Blues’ winless run to 12 matches.

The game was a familiar tale for Town, who had plenty of the ball and passed it around slickly at times but were unable to turn their possession into goals.

At the other end, Hull were given two goals out of nothing to claim their first away win of 2019 and once the Blues were two goals behind the visitors’ victory was never in any real doubt.

The Blues remain 13 points from safety at the bottom of the table with only seven left to play with a visit to 23rd-placed Bolton - who won 2-1 at QPR today to extend their lead over Town to eight points - their next fixture on Saturday.

Town: Bialkowski, Bree, Chambers (c), Nsiala, Kenlock, Skuse (El Mizouni 74), Chalobah, Nolan (Dozzell 18), Edwards, Judge, Jackson (Quaner 61). Unused: Gerken, Knudsen, Downes, Emmanuel.

Hull City: Marshall (c), Lichaj, De Wijs, Burke (McKenzie 74), Pugh, Groskicki (Evandro 87), Irvine, Kane, Batty, Bowen, Campbell (Martin 38). Unused: Long, Stewart, Milinkovic, McKenzie, Ridgewell. Referee: John Brooks (Leicestershire). Att: 15,720 (Hull: 485).


Photo: TWTD



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Bluearmy_81 added 17:04 - Mar 30
Being the laughing stock we have become hurts. Evans has done this. Minus 16m spend on players over the last 6 years. When are you all going to wake up and start blaming the real cause and sing, protest, demonstrate against him?! Stop being the most passive and apathetic fans ever and fight for your club FFS!
12

thechangingman added 17:09 - Mar 30
The sad truth, is this is what I've come to expect. Under Hurst = very little hope, terrible performances, feeling disillusioned. Under Lambert = very little hope, bad performances/with flashes of urgency, feeling vaguely happier.
It's kind of like improvement, without anyting of substance actually changing.
The 1st Division will at least see us win some games (I hope!!), but these are dismal times for Town...
8

BeattiesBackPocket added 17:10 - Mar 30
Couldn't agree more bluearmy_81 I still can't believe people stick up for him on here, from play off hopefuls to league one in ten years! Well he did say he wanted to get us out the division! He's right 20 or 30 million won't guarantee success but having a wage budget comparable last season to Burton Albion someone remind me where they are again? Oh yes mid table in league one 👍
7

TimmyH added 17:11 - Mar 30
Jeez cast your minds back to New Years Day - the last time we scored more than one goal (and even then we lost)...obviously an absolute lack of quality up front. We're like the Bella Emberg of Championship teams, have heart but have a big soft under belly (look her up if your of a certain age)...as for the Mr Lambert 'we'll really have to go for it now' still chuckling about it.
3

Blue_Again added 17:13 - Mar 30
Utterly pathetic football club at the moment I'm afraid to say
3

tractorboybig added 17:15 - Mar 30
I don't understand people who believe lambert will bring us up next season. There is only one way and its div 2 2021.
1

planetblue_2011 added 17:18 - Mar 30
That was dog 💩 deserve to go down with performances like that
4

TimmyH added 17:18 - Mar 30
Have to say also that Skuse and Chalobah just simply don't work together and Andre Dozzell is hardly grabbing his chance to be a regular starter next season (if he is still here)...

Sad times.
8

dirtydingusmagee added 17:21 - Mar 30
P#ss poor. end of .
5

midastouch added 17:22 - Mar 30
Hull on earth!
3

martin587 added 17:24 - Mar 30
Very disappointed with the result today.After the previous three or four games I expected a great deal more. Plenty of endeavour but once again we fail to show any signs of scoring.Its been our downfall for most of the season.
Even in Div 1 next season I cannot see any of our strikers getting goals.A massive rethink is needed.Todays result just about confirmed our position next season so we might as well plan now so as we can try and hit the ground running next season.
A very very disappointing day for me.Nothing more to add.Long walk on Southend Pier tomorrow.
Enjoy the rest of your evening lads.See you all at Bolton.🙈
12

dirtydingusmagee added 17:24 - Mar 30
over too you Marcus , How muchare you going to pay the fans to attend next season .
4

bluesince76 added 17:26 - Mar 30
I guess were a league 1 club now and with Evans in charge who knows where we will end up.
3

midastouch added 17:35 - Mar 30
Been a Hull of a long season! We might as well play Dean Gerken up front, at least he might win something in the air!
0

ChrisFelix added 17:40 - Mar 30
Too many players not at the races.
No inspiration from Chambers, once Hull were gifted the first goal that was that.
3

jas0999 added 17:41 - Mar 30
Sad to see how far our once proud club has fallen. Hull - by no means world beaters - had a fairly easy afternoon and picked up three very simple points.

League One is going to be much harder than people think. Unless Evans frees up a budget at the top end of League One then we could struggle and be there for years. The squad needs an overhaul and we need players who don't have poor injury records like Huws, Bishop, Adeyemi, Collins and Keane.

Very few positives for me today. Poor generally. Chalabah summing things up - looks on holiday mode already - safe in the knowledge he will be back at Chelsea pre season and not playing League One football. Let's hope that PL sticks to his plan of only one or maybe two loans next season.

Dark times.
10

runningout added 17:45 - Mar 30
wondering if our manager is able to motivate.. Got to be up for every game, not a few. Hope I'm wrong and he can resurrect our lot
1

Suffolkboy added 17:45 - Mar 30
Reason and cool headed observation seem cast aside in a welter of pointless emotion, understandable though that may be!
For some inexplicable reason we sold all our goal scorers ,AND it's goals that win games !Theres been little wrong with the team ethic and quite obviously they train well and are at times playing some good football BUT still unable to find the net .PH's front line imports have never looked the business,and even given time have failed to do the job !
We still have fitness challenges ,and I wonder how our record on this front compares with others in the division ? Are we looking closely and hard enough at what goes on in training , on our pitches or/ and how our players carefully look after themselves ?Whatever the criticism of LC ( right or wrong. ) he does seem to be able to stay very fit , acquired injuries apart !
Can it be that we are all underestimating the physical and athletic needs of Championshio football .and consequently find ourselves disillusioned by so many ‘not availables ‘ ?
Something is wrong ,and we NEED to find answers .
COYB
7

dirtydingusmagee added 17:45 - Mar 30
reckon PL will walk.
6

heathen66 added 17:49 - Mar 30
Very poor and lack-lustre performance, so much for really going for it then Mr Lambert.
Never going to 'go for it' with one up top, as first half got into some great positions but had no one in the box apart from Jackson.
Why replace the impressive Chalobah with the ineffective and obviously not fit Skuse I cannot understand, and then play Chalobah out of position.
Should have come out second half with 2 up top and gone for it...there REALLY is nothing to lose, but no still a back 4 and an un fit holding CM who was at fault for the second goal.
The whole team looked down (in more ways than one) and there was no one (and we should be looking at the Captain and vice captain) driving the team forward, encouraging the team when then are not going well. This is what their job is as C and VC. Too busy pulling up socks and wiping mud off the boots.
Many will not like this but unfortunately we have another 2 years of this leaderless team. May be passionate off the pitch, but lacks that real leadership on it.

That said Lambert must take a lot of the blame too. For everything good he has done over the last 5 months, must really take a look at himself today too. The team lacked motivation and guidance today and a poor team selection / formation and that falls at his door only.
11

Wishing4arightback added 17:51 - Mar 30
What a poor game!
I think today showed a few glimpses of what is to come if there is not a bit of a shake up with the 'Experienced' players.
We had no passion in the midfield and Skuse kept slowing everything down and that seemed to spread to the younger players. It was a million miles away from the previous driving from Bishop, Judge and Challobah when they were all bouncing of each other. Will Skuse be publicly criticised for not taking out his man fir the second goal? Downes did it, got slated and hasn't really played regularly since.
Also where is Harrison? Are you telling me that Quaner and Jackson are so much better???
Others can first pump, shout and point as much as they want, but we concede because we are poor defensively, without Bishop and in Judge in the middle we become pedestrian and we never look like scoring!
I just hope Lambert is big enough to make tough decisions rather than the easy ones!!
11

RobsonWark added 17:53 - Mar 30
All you Chambers worshippers must surely now see how bad he is. He let the pass go past him for the first goal goal (and blamed everyone else around him as usual) and did put in a tackle on the guy who scored the second goal as he was marking space again. We will be in division 2 in 2020 if he continues to be in the team.
11

RobsonWark added 17:53 - Mar 30
didn't put in a tackle
0

Dolphinblue added 17:55 - Mar 30
NO NO NO TO ALL THE HATERS! This season is over but come on, we will win league one next year. Get yr season tickets and support yr club and do it NOW! COYB. League one dream season
RARA LAMBERT RA, RARA LAMBERT RA
I WANT CHAMBERS AND I WANT SKUSE, I WANT TOO SEE OUR YOUNGSTERS USED.
I WANT YR LOVE, LOVE LOVE. I WANT YR LOVE LOVE LOVE
DONT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT NORWICH FC IM LOOKING FOR A LEAGUE ONE ROMANCE, WE CAN GO TO PORTSMOUTH TOGETHER, SPRND ARE SATURDAYS DOWN IN SOUTHEND TOWN,
IM LOOKING FOR A LEAGUE ONE ROMANCE
RARA LAMBERT RA
-3

Marinersnose added 18:00 - Mar 30
What a disappointment. Having been pleasantly surprised by our recent good form against decent opposition today was really poor. The opposition were a poor side but at times they totally destroyed us it was embarrassing to watch “nutmegs” the lot. Too many really poor players today. We missed Pennington at the back as Captain Calamity was back to normal slipping over whacking the ball high up the field. Losing Nolan early on was a bitter blow as he along with Judge are possibly our goal threats. Jackson has Teflon boots and cannot hold the ball up. He has a decent effort which hit the post but for me that was all. Chalobah not as influential as Skuse was alongside him and again he's slowing down and often gives the ball away. Dozzell showed some real quality and in a team of intelligent players he would shine. Judge was excellent and will not doubt find a club at this level next season. Quaner was a big improvement on Jackson as he can hold the ball but we had no goal threat at all. Edwards too quiet too often and has to be an impact player from the bench. Bree was already on the beach and showed little interest in the game. He was destroyed on so many occasions and I think the chances of him ever playing Premiership football are at best slim. PL has to work with what he's got which is a pretty poor squad with no goal scorer. The big question for me is will Dozzell Bishop Downes and Lankester be sold at the end of the season. This is a character trait of Marcus Evans. I sincerely hope not. We need to add strikers to this squad or we will struggle in Division 1. Keep the faith but it's hard after that performance
6


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