Dazed Review – Hull visit Sheff Wed

After a pretty good win against Burnley the hope (and fear in my case) was that we carried on being inconsistent and failed to give this game a good go of it ? after making my way there and parking myself in some dodgy car park I made my way to the ground and waited patiently for the gates to open (yes I was early for once, I now own sat-nav heh heh) ? Yet again the stewards seemed to have not learned only opening one gate for over 3000 fans to get in, admittedly it seemed to work ok and a couple of coffees later and I was ready for the game ?

The team Remained the same starting 11 that started the previous game and I had concerns as with the rain pelting down the ball would be zipping around fast and perhaps would not suit Parkins style of play at all ? The stage was set for a good game and our fans particularly were in fine voice from the off ? surprising how quiet and nervous the Sheffield Wednesday fans were though??

The game started at a high tempo and within ten minutes Nick Barmby had been played onside by one of their defenders and he slotted away nicely to give us the lead ? until then it had been pretty even to be honest but after then we started to have all the better chances with Parkin having a couple of good chances ? Fagan was then set loose by Barmby but could not finish his one on one with the keeper ?

Then out of nowhere Sheffield Wednesday should have been level as they had a shot on the edge of the box that Myhill saved wonderfully ? They had a couple more chances after that but we wound down the half just slowing the game down nicely to frustrate the already quiet crowd ?

Half Time – Sheffield Wednesday 0 – 1 Hull City

The second half was to be honest pretty much all Sheffield Wednesday, I must admit some of their passing was pretty sublime and they did plenty without really troubling the goal until Burton managed to score after skipping through a number of challenges ? soon after that Myhill had to come off after his knee had stiffened up so Matt Duke came on to replace him ? I must admit I did get a little nervous at this but within minutes he showed that he could command his area well and the defense looked confident with him there and encouraged Duke as the game went on ?

The game opened up nicely and the tempo increased with both sides attacking well, then it was City who came back into the lead as Nick Barmby got onto the end of the ball from a Livermore free kick and got his and City`s second of the game ? He came off after that to welcome Mcphee back from injury ? Sheffield continued trying to press forward but they just could not find the end product which would have given them a draw ? even despite 5 minutes injury time we held on and got the three points ?

Credit has to go especially to the defense today as they have shown great determination and grit to keep Wednesday to speculative long range efforts ? they were not invincible but they never gave up and we got the result that it deserved ?

So over an hour to get out of Sheffield (never known traffic like that after a game!) and I went home a happy man after a great new year from the tigers ?

Full Time – Sheffield Wednesday 1 – 2 Hull City

Anyway Player Ratings

Myhill – 7? Great save in the first half to keep the score at 1-0, again the worry is about commanding the area ? came off early due to his knee stiffening up ?

Dawson – 8? Another good game from Dawson ? carried on exactly where he left off in the Burnley game ? Ricketts will struggle to get in the side again at the minute on the left side at the moment ?

Delaney – 8? Consistent again, especially like the way he encouraged Duke rather than berating him for his kicking ?

Turner – 9? Best game I have seen him play so far ? looking confident, getting tackles where they mattered and just all round fantastic display ?

France – 8? Even better than against Burnley ? maybe he has at last found his position? Still expect his to make way for Mills though in the coming weeks ?

Ashbee – 7? Captain was solid throughout without doing anything too special, just the way he should be ?

Marney – 7? not as good as recent games but still good, showing a vein of form now which is beginning to look good for us, never afraid to have a go as well which is good ?

Livermore – 7? Solid alongside Ashbee, these two in the middle mean our forwards have license to roam and I think it gives the full backs security while going forward ?

Parkin – 6? Poor game from Parkin, the conditions did not suit his game and he is looking slower all the time ? needs a break from the starting XI in my opinion ?

Fagan – 8? Tried too much fancy stuff, but I suppose when you are this confident then why not! Good game but he has extremely high standards to live up to now ?

Barmby – 9? Followed on from Burnley with a great game and two goals ? he loves this ground more than most and watching his celebration for the second especially you can never say he does not care for City ?

Subs

Duke – 7 ? Showed Myhill a thing or two about commanding the area that`s for sure ? Pity his kicking was absolutely atrocious and got worse the more he kicked ?

Mcphee – 7 ? Made a nuisance of himself and great to see him back in the action, should start in place of Parkin if you ask me ?

Coles – 6 ? Brought on to play up front? Did surprisingly ok to be honest and had a chance or two where a striker would have done better I feel ?

Top Tiger? Nick Barmby again ? you cannot say much more that has not already ? if he keeps in this form then who knows where we could end up?

Tigers Tail? Parkin by a long way, off the pace, over weight and starting to lack confidence I feel as well ?

Managers Performance – 9/10? To come to Hullsborough and attack the way we did shows guts and its guts we need to get away from any trouble, Well Done Brownie and enjoy your rest of the season as manager ?

Ref Watch – 7/10? not too bad considering the conditions ?

(away) Crowd Watch – 9/10? fantastic, really made some noise and lifted the team at times ?

where to from here?? A Break if you call it that in middlesborough in the FA cup ? what team will be put out for this who knows, Marney and Delaney suspended, Duffy now back, I would give players like Duffy, Mcphee a go and see how they get on ? Give players like Parkin and possibly Myhill a rest ? one person who we all know you will not be able to keep off the pitch will be Barmby at the minute ? ex club and his form should mean for a good game ? Fagan will be keen to pit himself against a bigger team also ?