[Archived] News Article -> 2012/13 Full-Time: Hull City 2 Rovers 0

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Rovers have been soundly beaten by Hull City at the KC Stadium. The home side controlled the match and never looked threatened as they comfortably picked up the three points. Rovers can thank Jake Kean for the fact that they only conceded two goals in a game where they failed to force Stockdale into any serious saves in the Hull goal.

The first half was a slow affair in which neither side really got going. Hull were able to control possession and spent most of the half inside Rovers' territory, but they failed to create many good chances. They nearly scored half an hour into the match when Meyler's powerful header looked destined for the bottom corner, but Kean did extremely well to get down to make a strong right-handed save before getting back up to keep out the rebound.

The second half continued in much the same vein as the first, with Hull controlling the match and Rovers struggling to mount any serious attacks and the home side deservedly took the lead five minutes after the restart. Rovers failed to completely clear a corner and when the ball was put back into the box Gedo was on hand to meet the ball at the back post to put the home side ahead. Shortly after, Williamson was forced off with an injury and Appleton will be hopeful that his new signing will not be out for any great length of time, although the midfielder required considerable medical attention and was helped off with the aid of both a stretcher and a leg brace.

Hull nearly doubled their lead after another corner an hour into the match, but Kean produced his second good save of the night to keep out Hobbs' effort. The Rovers keeper was doing his best to keep his side in it, but the result was secured in the 67th minute when Rovers once again failed to pick up a man at the back post and this time Elmohamady provided the finish.

Rovers tried to push forward, but in truth they never looked like scoring and Hull were able to see out the rest of the match without any serious trouble. It was a disappointing performance and result from Appleton's side and will be seen as an opportunity missed to close the gap on the play-off sides. Automatic promotion now looks impossible and Rovers have now dropped to tenth in the table and sit seven points off the play-off places, although they do have a game in hand on six of the sides above them.

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