Post Match Reaction: Hull City 0-1 Stoke City

Roland Edge - "did very well" (Photo © Corred)

It's very hard not to vent having sat through 90-odd frustrating minutes at the KC, but I'll endeavor not to. The opposition were poor, no doubt about it. A long way below Wolves and Palace, and not even on par with Leicester. That they left with 3 points shows just how terrible we were.

First, some absolutions. John Welsh and Curtis Woodhouse worked incredibly hard, chased everything, were always available and passed well. They were too often spectators as Boaz Myhill (enforced) and Damien Delaney (of free will) wellied hopeful or panicked balls over their heads. Roland Edge also did very well. While a few good crosses were allowed in from Coles' wing, Edge was very solid. Lastly Brown, who had nothing to work with, but chased tirelessly and created bits 'n' pieces.

Their goal came when no-one stopped the left winger running down the line and delivering a cross, everyone in the middle missed it and when it was fired back in from the right, Gallacher tapped in. Far too easy. Aside from that, Sidibe headed against the bar and Boaz saved well late on. For us, Elliott hit Brown's bum with the keeper on the floor from a corner in the first half, Welsh and Woodhouse hit a couple of half chances over from 20 yards, Elliott headed against the bar, De Goey saved a tame free kick from Elliott again, and Burgess missed a sitter after Price headed across goal. Barmby had a penalty appeal turned down by the rotten ref and linesman when he was obviously blocked off and Elliott had a great opportunity to head across goal to the unmarked Brown but failed. On the whole, it wasn't a great deal of chances, but enough to have won.

Now to pointing some fingers. The manager took off Woodhouse when he was running the game, to replace him with Green, who didn't. We'll leave it at that. He put Price on for France and tried a strange diamond formation that never looked like working, but in fairness to the manager, was probably a desperate effort to get the ball moving through the middle.

Damien Delaney - "allowed Sidibe to bully him" (Photo © Corred)

Price was rotten, lazy even. In injury time, he let Welsh run 20 yards to close down a ball he'd have only had to run 5 to close down. He had no appetite for the game. Maybe he was confused about where he should be, but it's no excuse for lack of effort. Green and Burgess look like 3rd Division players. France came inside far too often, leaving no out ball to the right wing. Coles tucked in too much, Delaney allowed Sidibe to bully him and distributed poorly. Barmby never really got into it. If he'd put as much effort into finding the ball as he did into hassling the linesman, he'd have been better off.

So there it is, a very disjointed performance. A lack of width and a real lack of bravery. Bravery in wanting the ball. Only Welsh and Woodhouse went hunting for it. It's too early to panic, but several things are worrying. We always knew the squad had several rubbish players, like Jospeh, Ellison, Duke and that Thelwell bloke who used to play for us. Added to that, the players with question marks above their heads, Burgess, Price, Green and Sergio are struggling. With McPhee, Fagan, Ashbee, Andrews and Lynch injured, it leaves us very short on numbers and very short on options. Of 8 games, we should have beaten Stoke, Leicester and Sheff Weds, we might have beaten QPR and we might have gotten something at Wolves and Palace. Going through a season with too many might haves and should haves leads to trouble.

We need Fagan back for Saturday, he gives everyone a boost. Personally, I would opt for Wiseman at Full Back and Cort and Coles in the centre. We have an expensive, strong, footballing centre back stuck in no-man's land while we hit rubbish balls to no-one. That has to change. A big improvement needed for Saturday. The manager might have got some things wrong, but a few of the guys in Black and Amber need to look in a mirror and ask themselves how much they really want success. It's a strange division where anything can happen. It'll take plenty more fight and skill then we showed tonight though.

Completely changing subject, anyone know when we last scored in the North stand goal. The last one I can remember is Hartlepool last season, and that's including friendlies!

Ratings: Bo 7, Coles 6, Cort 6, Delaney 5, Edge 7, France 6 (Price), Woodhouse 8 (Burgess), Welsh 7, Elliott 5, Barmby 6, Brown 6 (Green).