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

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Hull City	(0) 2 – 0 (0)	Blackburn Rovers
Gedo 52, Elmohamady 67
Referee: T. Robinson		Attendance: 15,981

After the euphoria of the FA Cup win against the Arsenal at the Emirates, it was left to the more mundane surroundings of the KC Stadium at Hull to deliver a cold dose of reality to the travelling fans of Blackburn Rovers. For the second successive Tuesday the Rovers came up against one of the Championship's better outfits and found themselves distinctly second best. However, unlike last week when they managed to grind out a point at Brighton, they never looked like repeating that feat once Hull had taken a well-deserved lead.

Once again, Michael Appleton employed the familiar game plan of utilising two banks of four playing very deep with two attackers looking to chase the long ball from defence. However, against the 3–5–2 system that Steve Bruce employed the Rovers midfield was gradually worn down and the back four began to be increasingly exposed, particularly in the full-back areas.

Appleton opted to shuffle the pack in terms of team selection with the surprise inclusion of Karim Rekik on the left-hand side of midfield, while Danny Murphy returned to the centre of midfield. Markus Olsson and Morten Gamst Pedersen dropped to the bench from the eleven that started at the Emirates.

The Rovers made a bright start to the game and were the first to get in a shot in anger. A long-range effort from Colin Kazim-Richards tested David Stockdale to the full with the Hull 'keeper fumbling the initial shot and having to claim the ball at the second attempt as Jordan Rhodes closed in to try to snap up the loose ball.

Sadly, after such a promising start, the Rovers found themselves on the defensive for much of the first half. Hull forced a succession of early corners which the Rovers struggled to clear.

A clever piece of interplay by Robbie Brady and Stephen Quinn resulted in Brady forcing Jake Kean to palm his shot away. The young 'keeper then produced a wonderful save to keep out David Meyler's point-blank-range header. It was an outstanding piece of goalkeeping, particularly as he had to get back on his feet to keep out an effort from Robert Koren as the City captain tried to follow up and score from the initial save.

The half-time whistle came as some relief to the travelling support as the Rovers had been forced onto the back foot for most of the half. However, once again, outstanding goalkeeping by Kean and another heroic display from Grant Hanley and Scott Dann had kept the home side at bay. The feeling amongst the Rovers fans at half-time was that having weathered the storm the Rovers would look to become rather more positive and force the home side back rather more than they had done during the first forty-five minutes.

Unfortunately, there was to be no great change and the second period began with Hull again dominating possession and pushing the Rovers further and further back.

On 52 minutes the home side got the goal that their play had thoroughly deserved. A corner wasn't cleared properly and Quinn sent over a beautiful cross into the six-yard box and there was Gedo to apply the finishing touch from close range.

On 59 minutes the Rovers suffered a further blow when Lee Williamson, who had received a knock in the first half which had caused him problems, was injured in a collision with Brady. To add insult to injury, literally, Williamson was shown the yellow card as he was stretchered off the field.

The injury was the signal for Appleton to try to change things with DJ Campbell coming on to a hostile reception, as Williamson's replacement, whilst David Bentley replaced the struggling Rekik.

However, before the changes could make any impact on the game the Rovers found themselves two goals in arrears and, once again, it was poor marking that presented Hull with the opportunity to take a commanding lead. A cross from the left, on 67 minutes, saw Ahmed Elmohamady free on the back post with Martin Olsson having drifted inside and the Egyptian made no mistake as he volleyed the ball into the back of the net.

The second goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of the Rovers and they caused Hull very few problems during the final twenty minutes. Indeed, the passing became increasingly ragged and DJ Campbell endured a personal nightmare as the Hull fans derided his every move following his decision to join the Rovers instead of City.

The final whistle came as something of a relief for the 700 or so travelling supporters, many of whom had already decided to journey back to Lancashire before the last rites were administered.

After the recent upturn this was something of a setback and again illustrated the point that the Rovers have rather too much ground to make up to be considered realistic play-off candidates. A win at home and a draw away is now unlikely to deliver sixth place and there is little to suggest that the Rovers are, as yet, capable of winning five or six games on the bounce — the sort of sequence which one feels will be necessary to get back into the play-off positions.

Jake Kean, Grant Hanley and Scott Dann were the only players to emerge with any great credit from this debacle. Colin Kazim-Richards tried to get things going in the second half but found little in the way of support from Jordan Rhodes and DJ Campbell, who were well shackled by the Hull defence. Indeed, neither Rhodes nor Campbell looked particularly happy battling for possession and Campbell struggled to complete the simplest of passes as he endured a torrent of abuse from the home fans.

In midfield the Rovers looked distinctly average. Lee Williamson got a knock early on which restricted his movement and, of course, was later stretchered from the pitch after another collision. He didn't seem as influential on the right wing as he had been in the centre of midfield at the Emirates. Neither Jason Lowe nor Danny Murphy had much success. Lowe ran around a great deal, as he always does, but the end product was limited. Murphy again struggled with the pace of the game and during the latter stages he constantly lost possession or gave the ball away too cheaply. Karim Rekik, on the left of midfield, had a difficult debut and struggled to get into the game. He didn't look particularly happy wide on the left and one had hoped he might drop to left-back to allow Martin Olsson to raid down the left flank.

Sadly, both Bradley Orr and Martin Olsson struggled to contain the wing play of the Hull side and Olsson was badly at fault for the second goal, although it must be said that he received little cover from the midfield.

All in all a bad day at the office, but, in truth, Michael Appleton's job is, or should be, more long term than just the present campaign. When he arrived, the chances of promotion were remote at best and it is the way he has gone about restructuring the squad that gives hope for the future. In the Championship organisation is the key and Appleton gives every indication that he knows how to organise a team and that he knows what elements will combine to make a successful promotion campaign next season. A few months of experimentation should prove beneficial come next August and, of course, there is still the possibility of a trip to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final. This defeat and performance needs to be kept within a wider context.

Teams

Hull City

David Stockdale; James Chester, Jack Hobbs, Alex Bruce; Ahmed Elmohamady, David Meyler, Corry Evans (Seyi Olofinjana 88), Stephen Quinn, Robbie Brady; Robert Koren (Ahmed Fathi 90 + 5), Gedo (Tom Cairney 89)
Subs not used: Eldin Jakupovic (gk), Liam Rosenoir, Jay Simpson, Nick Proschwitz
Manager: Steve Bruce

Blackburn Rovers

Jake Kean; Bradley Orr, Scott Dann, Grant Hanley, Martin Olsson; Lee Williamson (David Bentley 59), Danny Murphy, Jason Lowe, Karim Rekik (DJ Campbell 59); Colin Kazim-Richards, Jordan Rhodes
Subs not used: Sebastian Usai (gk), Gael Givet, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Markus Olsson, Nuno Gomes
Manager: Michael Appleton

Bookings

Hull City – Corry Evans

Blackburn Rovers – Colin Kazim-Richards, Bradley Orr, Martin Olsson, Lee Williamson


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