Despite the wintery conditions Towns first ever visit to the KC Stadium wasn’t called off, it seems though that someone forgot to tell Joe Royles men that the was still a game to be played.
Ipswich lined up in a negative 4-5-1 for the second game running, and striker Dean Bowditch was again ommitted from the squad, for the second game running. Shane Supple took over between the sticks, with Lewis Price not being risked with the groin injury he played with at home 2 days earlier.
Town were second best all over the pitch and the only suprising thing being it took Hull til the second half to make a breakthrough, lack of accuracy from their frontmen the main reason for their dominance not being turned into goals sooner.
The loss of lone striker Nicky Forster hampering any chance Town had of making a mark on this match, his loss came in the 27th minute, he was replaced by 17 yr old forward Danny Haynes.
Town did have a bright 10 minutes at the beginning of the second period and looked like they’d got themselves into the game, when Nicky Barmby scored from a Hull breakaway, which started from way inside the home teams own half.
Joe Royle made the change to an authodox 4-4-2 by bringing on Matt Richards to replace Ian Westlake, Richards dropping into the left back role, allowing Richard Naylor to partner Haynes in attack, with Fabian Wilnis moving from full back to centre back. The musical positions act something Town fans are becomming all to accustomed to nowadays, though it certainly doesn’t seem to suit the players, training all week in one position only to play in a different one on matchday.
These problems were all too evident when another Hull breakaway in the 70th minute, left Billy Paynter with acres of space on the right, to put over a cross easily converted by Craig Fagan.
Hull City were not fantastic value for money themselves, misunderstandings between their front men, too often leaving them wasting opportunities, but they capitalised on a Town team lacking direction and motivation.
I personally am a Joe Royle fan, he has done well with the restrictions of the job, but the last 3 games, I can honestly not defend any of his tactical decisions and substitutions. The players are giving their all, but too many are being played out of postion or not being played at all!
Joe Royle proud of performance?
Joe speaking to the official site:
‘I was proud of the performance and would have been disappointed to come away with a point’
Joe watches a different game to the Town fans:
‘We passed the ball immensely well and had some good performers on the night. Jim Magilton ran the game for long periods, Darren Currie and Gavin Williams were terrific and Jason and Bam Bam at the back didn’t really have any problems.’
Joe being honest:
‘We didn’t have that cutting edge again though and just can’t score a goal at the moment and losing Fozzie was obviously a blow for us.
‘I don’t know what we have done to deserve the bad luck we have had this season and we are running out of options in attack at the moment.’
‘Fozzie has a jarred knee and is a doubt for the weekend and we could have no senior strikers available for the Luton match. Richard Naylor might be an option and did great when he went up front for us. Dean Bowditch will come back into contention but Dean is struggling in front of goal at the moment.’
‘But looking at it I don’t think we are that far away. I would say that we are only a goalscorer or two short of being a decent side.’
‘We have got two outstanding ‘keepers, plenty of good players in midfield but we are short of options in attack and I’m hoping to bring in at least one striker or maybe two in the January transfer window.’
Peter Taylor on Hull
Brief but accurate
‘I thought we were great tonight and I was very pleased with our performance. We passed and defended very well.’
