Champioship game 12

Town 2-0 Hull City

A good performance by Town today. They started on the front foot and had a couple of early opening before the cross was swung in deep. The City keeper flapped and in teh ensuing scramble Lees forced the ball home. There potential shouts for a couple of penalties in the mayhem but Lees converting was the better result. We continued to dominate with O’Brien running the midfield for the next 20 minutes. Hull then though started to get a bit of a foothold in the game and had a lot of possession, but never really threatened. I’ve not seen as much diving since the Olympics and unfortunately the ref often fell for it as Honeyman (the worst culprit) and his colleagues kept going to ground when tackled and adding a few extra rolls as they tumbled.

The second half continued in much of the same vein as the first with Hull having more of teh possession but creating little with it. When Town had possession we looked a little more threateing although we did not commit many men forward. Hull continued with their theatrics and a couple of late dirty challenges in either half could have brought them a red card with a stronger referee. On 73 minutes we got our deserved reward when Hull failed to clear well from a corner and the impressive Holmes cleverly finished from the edge of the area. Town worked well and saw out the game without too many nerves and were deserving of the result. Hull could play in spells but showed a lack of cohesion, they will pick up points as they worked hard but may struggle to stay up.

Ratings

Nicholls

Good performance again from Nicholls. A couple fo comfortable efforts on target which were well dealt with and distribution was good and varied. Very composed performance and managed not to pick up a yellow card.

Rating 7

Lees

Good performance again from Lees, he was strong at the back, in the air particularly. A few stray passes but put himself in the middle for the early goal which he forced over the line.

Rating 7

Pearson

Read the game really well today. Stopped a lot of potential attacks with his interceptions and led the back three well.

Rating 7

Colwill

Picked up a yellow card in the first minute when the Hull player dived with no contact but did not let that get to him. Wilks often pitted himself againt Colwill but he did well and managed the situations well throughout.

Rating 6

Hogg

Good steady performance from Hoggy. He kept the ball moving and did not slow pace down. Retained posession and won the ball high up the pitch. Looked comfortable today.

Rating 7

O’Brien

For me was MOM. He dictated the play in the opening half hour and Hull could not stop him. As the game progressed he was targetted for abuse, being kicked all over the park but kept on going and kept coursing Hull problems. At times City were concentrating more on Lewis then they were going forward.

Rating 8

Sinani

A bit of a quiet game today. Helped to create space for O’Brien & Holmes and did get a good shot away in the first half which Ingram did well to turn behind. Came off for High in the second period.

Rating 6

Holmes

Good game today from Holmes reminiscent of the Swansea game last season. He found space on the ball today and caused Hull all sorts of problems particularly in the second half as they focused on O’Brien. Took his goal well which was well deserved.

Rating 8

Toffolo

Good game from Toffolo again keeping things going down the left particularly in the first half.

Rating 7

Thomas

Hull struggled to cope with him and Thomas enjoyed the battle. Came off in the second half after his exploits for Wales in the last week. He was a constant threat and did a good job.

Rating 7

Ward

Linked up play well again, dropping deep to move the side up the pitch. Again we tended to play to his strengths and battled well to win the corner which we scored the second from.

Rating 7

High, Turton & Sarr came on in the second half.

Carlos

The line up and tactics were good today. We played to our strengths and contained Hull well. The players appear to have learned that you can win games without having loads of posession, it is what you do with the ball that counts.

Rating 7