Dazed Review – Coventry at the KC

The Dazed Review – Coventry at the KC

A cup win midweek lifted most people`s spirits and today presented a good chance to build on this with our first league win and our first league points at home, before the game we found out we are playing against Hartlepool in the league cup second round at home but for now it`s time to switch our attentions to the bread and butter of the league.

The team picked itself to a point, Back to Duffy and Parkin up front, France on the left with Fagan back on the right from the start with Marney and the solid Livermore in the middle, From the off we looked quite lively with Parkin having the majority of our chances and our general play was calm and assured, we were not rushing things. We kept the ball for long periods and Coventry very rarely got control of the ball in any decent positions, Ricketts moved things about well for us and Livermore and Marney were linking up well, our weak link however was without a doubt our strikers, we played some very good football but the forwards were either not in good enough positions or they simply could not convert chances created. The biggest chance coming in the last 10 minutes of the half when Parkin somehow missed from three yards with the keeper on the floor, he could have and should have squared it to the wide open Duffy for him to slot it in.

As the first half drew to a close however you could sense that Coventry were starting to creep into the game a little bit and they had their first chance just before the break in added time which their striker should have put it away, had it had gone in then it would have been unfair but we were lucky in that sense and we went in goalless at half time when we should have no doubt been in the lead.

Half time – Hull City 0-0 Coventry City



The second half and we had high hopes of getting something from the game, Parkys team talks at half time up till now had resulted in increased tempo and an improvement but this sadly was not the case this time, they came out and looked very lazy, the whole shape had just gone, we had gone back to playing silly long balls in hope rather than composed passing on the ground, Parkinson tried to inject something into the game when swapping both our under performing strikers for Burgess and Barmby but this did absolutely nothing, the team had stopped playing as a team, it looked like we were actually desperate to hold on to a 0-0 scoreline! The players in my opinion actually looked too scared to try and go for that win in fear of conceding at the other end.

With five minutes to go Coventry struck a killer blow though as they got the lead out of nothing, a good goal I must admit and it showed the only difference between the two teams, they had two chances and stuck one away, we had chances throughout the game and yet again failed to deliver, 8 of the 10 outfield players do well and build up play nicely at times but the front two time and time again are failing to produce the goods.



Full Time – Hull City 0-1 Coventry City

Anyway Player Ratings



Myhill – 6? Could not do much for the goal and did not have much else to do to be honest, distribution was better when throwing it but his kicking is still a worry.



Dawson – 7? Best defender again and worked tirelessly up and down the flank. He is by no mean a set piece taker though.



Turner – 6? Quite solid once again.



Collins – 6? Same as Turner, solid without anything spectacular, passing was poor though.



Ricketts – 7? First half looked so composed and confident, second half faded though.



France – 6? Not as good as he has been in previous games although at times still showed good touches and passes.



Marney – 7? A lot better than he has been, pressed forward and looked more likely to score than our forwards.



Livermore – 8? Another man of the match display from Livermore, very solid throughout.



Fagan – 7? Continued his good form on the right wing and yet another left back left wondering what had hit him throughout the 90 minutes.



Duffy – 5? Could not pick up from his goal mid week, distribution to him was poor but his positioning was not the best either.



Parkin – 5? Guilty of missing the best chance we had (how did he miss it !), not had the presence he has had at the start of the season. Very lazy at times also.



Subs



Barmby – 5 ? Did nothing apart from dent confidence of three other players within 5 minutes by shouting and bawling at them including the captain, needs to pull back a little at this as he is not the captain and should know his place in the team. Passion is all well and good but I think he goes over the top at times.



Burgess – 6? Did not understand why he came on to be honest, hope the Blackpool deal gets sorted during this break.



Top Tiger? Livermore again although I thought Dawson, Fagan, Marney, Ricketts were not far off.



Tigers Tail? Duffy, Parkin, Barmby and Burgess. Every striker we have are simply not performing ?



Parky`s Performance – 6/10? His team talk at half time did not have the desired effect I am sure and I did question his substitutions also but he did not have much choice being honest as he had to do something.



Ref Watch – 7/10? Thought the ref was good and kept the game flowing as much as he could.



Crowd Watch – 5/10? The atmosphere at the KC is dying at the moment and too many fans quick to shout abuse directed at single players, the booing at half time was uncalled for as we had controlled the first half.



where to from here ?? Two weeks break and time to go back to the drawing board again and start the season again in our eyes, we need to use this two weeks to get rid of certain players if they are not to figure in our squad as well as players who are simply not performing after a number of chances, we need a striker in as our number 1 priority and also there is time for the likes of Ashbee, Coles and Yeates to get ready and start competing for places in the squad for Birmingham, not time to panic yet but it is getting a bit nervy I must admit!