fbm
Blue tinted optimist⭐
What a game!
Anyone neutral watching would have witnessed 90 minutes of great entertainment, and surely would have wondered how on earth we have spent the best part of 40 matches near the bottom of the table.
Hulls travelling army always give great support, but you know when Blues are playing well because the opposition fans are quiet... tonight was the same for most of the game as Blues played some truly fantastic football. I would imagine Hull were very pleased with a point.
With no big target man (despite being big, Leon is NOT a target man) the emphasis was on pass and move stuff and it was great to see the whole width of the pitch being used as we stretched Hull to the limit. If it were not for their keeper we could have had 5 or 6 and to be honest we restricted Hull to mainly attacks on the break.
But they are a big, strong and powerful side with a lot of pace and they broke quickly and could have had 3 or 4 themselves. It was just one of those games.
After about 35 minutes Gower intercepted a clearance and took the ball into the box before shooting past a flat footed keeper to open the scoring. To be honest, Hull didn't show much after that but with 5 mins to go before half time, Jupp hauled down their winger and IMHO was lucky to escape a booking. They had a huge aerial presence with Burgess and Junior Lewis and it was the latter who rose at the back post to head into the net. Good delivery and a good header.
In first half injury time, the ball was played into Maher who, in the box with his back to goal, chested the ball down, turned and volleyed the ball towards the top corner of the net. The Hull keeper produced a truly fantastic save to tip the ball over the bar. From the corner however, the ball was not cleared properly, Jupp made a fantastic block and the ball ran for Maher who whipped in a cross to the far post. Everyone missed it and it nestled nicely in the net to give Blues a 2-1 interval lead.
In the second half Hull came out stronger but after 5 minutes or so Blues started to boss proceedings. Lewis Hunt hit a shot that deflected up and looked to be dropping over the keeper but he tipped the ball over the bar. He was also to deny Hunt again, Gower and Cort with great saves before the night was out.
As I say Hull were restricted to breaks but one of them saw Danny Allsop race clear, despite the best attentions of Jamie Stuart hit a goalbound shot that saw Darryl produce a superb fingertip save.
However, soon after Hull were to draw level. From a corner, Blues cleared the ball to the edge of the box but there was no-one attacking the ball. Ian Ashby smacked the ball home from 20 yards.
I suppose a draw was a good result against one of the high flyers but I am sure that if we play like this next year we will be right up there come next April/May.
Blue Army!
Ratings
Flahavan - 8. Made a couple of excellent saves and his distribution was much quicker and more imaginative.
Jupp - 7. Made some great overlaps and crucial challenges but sometimes the delivery was not up to standard. I particularly liked the way he remained in the centre circle and for a full 30 seconds after the final whistle applauded each home stand...
Cort - 7. Had his hands full against Burgess but won more than he lost
Stuart - 8. Probably the best game I've seen him play. he looks so much better in the centre as opposed to the left back slot
Nicolau - 7. Got better as the game progressed but must learn when to play a cultured ball down the line and when to put it into row Z
Gower - 7 Great goal, tried loads, not a lot came off for him but a real crowd pleaser. Gives us loads of width and one thing you cannot accuse him of is hiding.
Maher - 9 - MOM. A superb battling performance... but I have to say that there were occasions when as skipper he should be more vocally dominant and should be barking out orders to his teammates.
Bentley - 7. Did pretty well and worked very hard in the middle. Somehow failed to be awarded a penalty when Junior Lewis got him in a body slam and half nelson!
Hunt - 8. Best game I've seen him have in midfield. Ran himself ragged and nearly got on the scoresheet twice
Constantine - 7 Quite quiet by his standards but the Hull defence were all over him like a rash. Was unlucky not to win a penalty or two.
Dudfield - 6. Worked very hard but you could see that he had not been working with a ball for a few weeks
Sub
Jenkins - 6. On for Dudfield with 10 to go and I felt we lost a little width at that point as Gower went up front. Didn't do a great deal but the sheer pace of the game made it hard to get into.
Anyone neutral watching would have witnessed 90 minutes of great entertainment, and surely would have wondered how on earth we have spent the best part of 40 matches near the bottom of the table.
Hulls travelling army always give great support, but you know when Blues are playing well because the opposition fans are quiet... tonight was the same for most of the game as Blues played some truly fantastic football. I would imagine Hull were very pleased with a point.
With no big target man (despite being big, Leon is NOT a target man) the emphasis was on pass and move stuff and it was great to see the whole width of the pitch being used as we stretched Hull to the limit. If it were not for their keeper we could have had 5 or 6 and to be honest we restricted Hull to mainly attacks on the break.
But they are a big, strong and powerful side with a lot of pace and they broke quickly and could have had 3 or 4 themselves. It was just one of those games.
After about 35 minutes Gower intercepted a clearance and took the ball into the box before shooting past a flat footed keeper to open the scoring. To be honest, Hull didn't show much after that but with 5 mins to go before half time, Jupp hauled down their winger and IMHO was lucky to escape a booking. They had a huge aerial presence with Burgess and Junior Lewis and it was the latter who rose at the back post to head into the net. Good delivery and a good header.
In first half injury time, the ball was played into Maher who, in the box with his back to goal, chested the ball down, turned and volleyed the ball towards the top corner of the net. The Hull keeper produced a truly fantastic save to tip the ball over the bar. From the corner however, the ball was not cleared properly, Jupp made a fantastic block and the ball ran for Maher who whipped in a cross to the far post. Everyone missed it and it nestled nicely in the net to give Blues a 2-1 interval lead.
In the second half Hull came out stronger but after 5 minutes or so Blues started to boss proceedings. Lewis Hunt hit a shot that deflected up and looked to be dropping over the keeper but he tipped the ball over the bar. He was also to deny Hunt again, Gower and Cort with great saves before the night was out.
As I say Hull were restricted to breaks but one of them saw Danny Allsop race clear, despite the best attentions of Jamie Stuart hit a goalbound shot that saw Darryl produce a superb fingertip save.
However, soon after Hull were to draw level. From a corner, Blues cleared the ball to the edge of the box but there was no-one attacking the ball. Ian Ashby smacked the ball home from 20 yards.
I suppose a draw was a good result against one of the high flyers but I am sure that if we play like this next year we will be right up there come next April/May.
Blue Army!
Ratings
Flahavan - 8. Made a couple of excellent saves and his distribution was much quicker and more imaginative.
Jupp - 7. Made some great overlaps and crucial challenges but sometimes the delivery was not up to standard. I particularly liked the way he remained in the centre circle and for a full 30 seconds after the final whistle applauded each home stand...
Cort - 7. Had his hands full against Burgess but won more than he lost
Stuart - 8. Probably the best game I've seen him play. he looks so much better in the centre as opposed to the left back slot
Nicolau - 7. Got better as the game progressed but must learn when to play a cultured ball down the line and when to put it into row Z
Gower - 7 Great goal, tried loads, not a lot came off for him but a real crowd pleaser. Gives us loads of width and one thing you cannot accuse him of is hiding.
Maher - 9 - MOM. A superb battling performance... but I have to say that there were occasions when as skipper he should be more vocally dominant and should be barking out orders to his teammates.
Bentley - 7. Did pretty well and worked very hard in the middle. Somehow failed to be awarded a penalty when Junior Lewis got him in a body slam and half nelson!
Hunt - 8. Best game I've seen him have in midfield. Ran himself ragged and nearly got on the scoresheet twice
Constantine - 7 Quite quiet by his standards but the Hull defence were all over him like a rash. Was unlucky not to win a penalty or two.
Dudfield - 6. Worked very hard but you could see that he had not been working with a ball for a few weeks
Sub
Jenkins - 6. On for Dudfield with 10 to go and I felt we lost a little width at that point as Gower went up front. Didn't do a great deal but the sheer pace of the game made it hard to get into.
