| Midland Saint Hull Match Report 06:57 - Oct 24 with 747 views | saintwizzler |
HULL CITY 1 SAINTS 2
“…sad into unsad…”
It’s amazing how different a few decisive seconds can make you feel about a game. At 94 minutes we were taking away a sort of respectable draw after being outplayed by Hull for large parts of the game. Scroll forward by half a minute and it was all high-fives thanks to great approach work and a superb finish by Fraser. There is still a lot of work to be done as it was embarrassing how exposed we were on the wings. Yet 10 points out of 12 is a good comeback after 4 straight defeats and at what is the quarter-way point of the season making the playoffs does look a realistic prospect.
We set off early for what can be a demanding trip to one of the remotest grounds in the country. Despite the heavy rain our drive was by all accounts a lot easier than travelling by train. We were by the ground before 10 am and looking for parking. My previous free parking spot has clearly been spotted by the authorities who have imposed a one-hour maximum stay since our last visit – seven managers ago. The huge main car park at the stadium was not open. So after a very nice breakfast at the Tramway café we parked up at the Park View Pub, which was very welcoming to away supporters.
There was a pretty good away following in the attendance of 21,524. We had a very good view in row H, with the goal just off to our right. It was fortunate that the weather had brightened up considerably by kick-off as we would have been drenched if the rain had continued. The stadium formerly known as the Kaycee opened only in 2022. And while I am concerned that St Mary’s has deteriorated then I was shocked at how badly Hull’s stadium has been neglected. Much of the paint has peeled away from the steel superstructure and the metal supports for the seats have rusted very badly, while what I think were once yellow seats have faded to white.
The home side sported a predominantly black and yellow kit echoing their tiger nickname, apart from the keeper who had come as the Pink Panther. Saints were in the white and mint kit, with in something of a rarity Bazunu wearing the same colour shorts as the outfield players.
Leading the line for Hull was Liam Delap who has made something of a career out of being linked with Saints. So his goal was simply inevitable. Also in the side was Alfie Jones who came out of our youth system but never made a first team appearance.
The big change for Saints was that Adams was on the bench. That left Alcaraz, fresh from his non-playing time with the Argentina squad, to lead the line. That just didn’t work as he made no impression on the game apart from a delightful subtle flick that was just creeping in at the far post until the keeper got just enough on it.
Saints put the early pressure on the goal at the far end. But when Hull did get the ball there were getting forward far too easily and causing all sort of problems on the wings, with Philogene looking particularly impressive.
Since the club had put a massive PR effort this week into a supporters event to justify our tactics there was no doubt that we would persist with a passing game. It would help though if the players actually passed the ball to each other. Hull’s game was not that different, although they seemed keener to get the ball actually moving forward.
KWP was outstanding today. He had to be to make up for the midfield weakness ahead of him. And he made the goal that came rather against the run of play in the 20th minute. A great run to the byline and pullback enabled Smallbone to pass the ball into the net.
Hull at least did not equalize immediately. We made them wait five minutes. Manning was weak in cutting out the danger on the left. When the ball came in it took a lucky deflection that enabled Delap to lunge in to poke it into the net from close in.
Saints rocked a bit after the equalizer and we needed some good work from Bazunu, having one of his best games for us, to keep us level for halftime.
The second half saw Saints attacking towards us and creating some good opportunities but never quite getting a clean contact on the ball. We also took some punishment, KWP was victim of two yellow card challenges. Hull looked the more dangerous team. But what saved us was their dallying when going clear through on goal.
I must make a special mention of Mr Eltringham, one of the most ridiculous officials we have encountered this season. When we got a corner on the left the Hull supporters in that area took umbrage at the placement of the ball. And at the instruction of the crowd the nincompoop strutted over to check. He saw nothing wrong – I am not sure I have ever seen an official find anything wrong in such circumstances. But amazingly, next corner on that side the Hull supporters howled and again Mr Eltringham strutted over – to find nothing untoward once again. It was quite amusing that when we got a corner on the right, just in front of the away fans, the Saints supporters invited the official over to check the positioning of the ball. He refused the invitation.
As the game neared the closing minutes you sensed that Hull were settling, while Saints fancied more than a point. Alcaraz and Sulemana had already been replaced by Adams and Edozie. Smallbone was swapped for Charles, Adam Armstrong for Mara and Fraser for Stuart Armstrong.
The board showed five minutes to be added. The disgruntled and well lubricated supporter in front of us headed for the exit as Saints continued to push for the opening that would make the difference.
We were in the final minute, with supreme irony the minute due to the Hull fans moaning about the corner. A throw in was taken quickly, Mara pushed the ball through for Downes to chase to the byline. A driven cross and there was Fraser with a quite brilliant instant volley into the corner of the net to win the game.
There was hardly time left to restart before the final whistle. For the fourth time this season the players and manager were able to celebrate in front of the travelling fans, with three of those wins delivered by very late goals.
It was not too hard to get out from the pub carpark on to the main road. And there we stayed. It took an agonizing 35 minutes to progress a few hundred yards to the dual carriageway ahead of us. It was all down to a total lack of stewarding of cars exiting the stadium car park, resulting in total gridlock. When we did at last make the dual carriageway we were heading out of Hull in a matter of minutes. And still home by 8,30.
The win makes us feel a lot better, especially after the Rotherham game. There is still a lot of work to be done. But so far we are at least succeeding in my minimum aim for the season of winning more games than we lose.
Saints team: 31Bazunu 2Walker-Peters 21Harwood-Bellis 35Bednarek 3Manning 16Smallbone (Charles 88') 4Downes 17S Armstrong (Fraser 84') 9A Armstrong (Mara 88') 22Alcaraz (Adams 69') 20Sulemana (Edozie 69')
Subs: 1McCarthy 6Holgate 7Aribo 10Adams 14Bree 18Mara 23Edozie 24Charles 26Fraser
Summary: stolen points are the sweetest Top Man: KWP
Next report: PNE and Birmingham
Lyrics: The Beautiful South – a little time |  |
| |  |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
