City 3 Hull City 1
Report by Stuart Dawkins
It's a funny old game … at half-time in City's previous match, David Nugent was looking bereft of confidence and ideas. Five minutes later he scored his 100th league goal, admitting that he hit it in with his shin. Four days later, he looks a different player – brimming with confidence and scoring three times in a game which I thought one of City's most entertaining performances for some time.
Unsurprisingly, Nigel Pearson kept the same side as started against Burnley. He also kept the same formation as he adopted late in that game – effectively a 4-3-1-2 with Knockaert free to roam behind the two strikers; Hull lined up without any of their ex-Leicester players.
The first ten minutes was a replica of almost every game this season to date: City dominating possession and playing neat passing manoeuvres – interspersed with the occasional passing error. The difference this time, was that they actually managed to score from some of this pressure. The rejuvenated Nugent intercepted what appeared to be an intended shot from Drinkwater just inside the box, turned calmly and tucked the ball inside the far right-hand post for a 1-0 lead to City.
The next ten minutes continued to be dominated by City's midfield, with Knockaert literally running rings around Hull's players and both full backs getting forwards well. Knockaert released Vardy with a through-ball in the ninth minute, with the Hull 'keeper doing well to close down and parry Vardy's shot. From the corner, a City shot rocketed towards the goal to be somehow cleared from the line by a Hull player who surely could not have seen the ball coming, never mind have time to react to it. Six minutes later, St Ledger met another corner on the volley from within the six-yard box, but appeared to toe it over the bar.
Then, as often before this season, the opposition put together one decent move, and City conceded a goal. Hull broke quickly, the ball was crossed from the right and Simpson beat everyone to stab the ball home from close range : 1-1.
The equaliser boosted Hull's confidence, and the next twenty minutes were more even – although City continued to create scoring chances, whereas Hull were restricted to attacking on the break, without troubling Schmeichel at any time.
Given City's bad luck so far this season, I suspect most home fans were expecting a 1-1 half-time score, but three minutes before the break, another City shot was cleared from the line by a Hull defender. This time, the ball was crossed from the edge of the six yard box and Nugent rose at the far post, unmarked to head his second: 2-1 to City – a score well-deserved by the balance of play.
Neither manager made any changes at half time, and the game progressed much as it had in the first half. City continued to create chances: the excellent Knockaert again released Vardy one-on-one with the Hull 'keeper, who again managed to deflect the resulting shot wide, Morgan headed over from a corner, Knockaert hit a 20-yeard shot which was saved, Marshall shot just wide from a similar distance. Hull threatened little, although a 30-yard free-kick did force a smart save from Schmeichel.
Both managers made substitutions around the seventieth minute mark: King replacing James for City, then Waghorn replacing Vardy; with Hull bringing on Rosenior, Olofinjana and Proschwitz for Dudgeon, Faye and Evans.
The match was very well refereed, with Mr Ilderton showing a very un-fussy style throughout. It was rather surprising, then, for Hull City manager Steve Bruce to completely loose his cool over a ball signalled by the linesman as going out for a City throw-in. He seemed to advance to challenge the linesman, being stopped by Nigel Pearson. The referee duly, and correctly, sent Bruce off; Bruce went to sit in the stands, but the ref – again correctly – insisted that he leave down the tunnel. It was a trivial incident, but goes some way to show why football is viewed as having a problem with 'Respect'. That such an experienced, well-respected manager should behave in such a childish, petulant manner over such a trivial incident in an un-controversial game, shows much of what is sometimes wrong with football.
During the two-minute hold-up whilst Bruce left the building, Pearson replaced Marshall with Dyer. With ten minutes to go, Nugent – who had chased and harried the Hull defence and 'keeper throughout – was looking dead on his legs; I had expected Pearson to replace him, but who would replace a man on a hat-trick?
Six minutes of stoppage time were signalled, and City fans could sense that, for all the team's dominance, a one goal lead may not be enough. Schmeichel needed to palm over a 25-yeard free kick. From the resulting corner, a Hull header was cleared off the line; the ball broke to Waghorn on the edge of his own box, and suddenly City were three against one. Waghorn fed the ball to Dyer, who held off the one defender to release the ball into the penalty box for Nugent, who rounded the 'keeper to complete his hat-trick into an empty net. What a difference confidence makes!
The game finished 3-1, with City fan's ironically chanting "boring, boring Leicester."
City looked impressive going forwards. Knockaert has the potential to be City's most entertaining player for a long time: his passing setting up chances, his willingness to take on defenders and his tricks (I counted seven successive step-overs inside Hull's box at one time, without touching the ball once). Playing him behind the strikers does sometimes leave City a man short in midfield when defending, but Vardy shows a real willingness to track back to cover, and Drinkwater was today outstanding in breaking up Hull's attacks – whilst Nugent and Knockaert will probably get the plaudits today, I thought this Drinkwater's best game for City to date.
Hull came to the King Power stadium as most teams have this season – looking happy to attack on the break and scrape a draw. They are a typical big, burly Championship side – just the sort that City will have to beat if they are to challenge for promotion. The fact they did so gives some hope for the rest of the season.
City: Schmeichel, De Laet, Konchesky, Morgan, St Ledger, Drinkwater, Marshall, James, Knockaert, Vardy, Nugent
Substitutes: Logan, Whitbread, King, Dyer, Waghorn, Schlupp, Futacs
Hull City: Amos, Chester, Dudgeon, Bruce, Evans, Koren, Faye, Aluko, Elmohamady, Quinn, Simpson
Substitutes: Oxley, Rosenior, Dawson, McShane, Olofinjana, Mclean, Proschwitz
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation