Sunday, September 12, 2010

No roar from the Tiger: City 2-0 Hull

Oops - a bit tardy posting this, but it's been a very busy weekend.

I have to say I didn't fancy this on paper. Despite Hull's less than impressive start to life back in the Championship, they have some decent players and a decent manager in Nigel Pearson. And with several of our major players injured (Bellamy, Bothroyd, Chopra, Drinkwater) I just felt it might be one of those days, especially with our loan player to them - Anthony Gerrard starting for them.

Not so. Hull were to be blunt, awful. Having said that, City managed to stop any sense of playmaking from Hull. Seyi Olifanjana, ironically on loan from Hull is a monster in midfield and City look in a totally different class when he's there. He breaks up play and passes simple. Opposition players just bounce off him. And it was I suppose therefore inevitable that it was Olifanjana who made the breakthough after a period of City pressure when we almost scored through McPhail and then McNaughton. A fizzing Peter Whittingham cross from a free kick was met by the head of Oli, and bang - 1-0. To be fair he didn't celebrate too much (but we all did)!

Shortly after that he picked up an injury and had to leave the pitch. On came Gavin Rae - not exactly a like for like, but Rae kept things tight.

Up front, Andy Keogh on his own on his home debut was working his socks off with no joy.

Late in the second period, Rae made it 2-0 to wrap up the points. In the end it was easy. Hull offered very little, and despite a couple of mis-communications between Gyepes and Marshall, it was all too easy for City.

But we'll take easy - hard games will surely come, so we'll have points when they're on offer. A professional if not sparkling performance from the Bluebirds, another clean sheet, and Bothroyd, Bellamy, Chopra to return. Happy days.

Up the Bluebirds!!!

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