What a difference from the first 3 games of the season! Phelan’ s tinkering brings another defeat.
What has Hernandez done wrong? Is he on his way to Villa? Who can blame him!
City made 3 changes from the debacle at Bournemouth, Dawson coming back with Huddlestone and Meyler back in.
Keane was left on his own up front with Mason supposedly supporting him. what a laugh! Stoke are a poor side but City made them look good. Stoke’s first chance came on 14 minutes whereas City had to wait until the 24 minute before a good cross from Mason found Keane who headed wide.
Stoke got a corner on 24 minutes and the cleared ball fell to Shaqiri who fired an unstoppable shot into the top right hand corner past the hapless Marshall.
Keane headed wide again on 33 minutes followed by 2 corners on 41 minutes both that came to nothing.
Bony should have made it 2-0 on 44 minutes but wasted an excellent chance.
HT Hull City 0-1 Stoke City
Neither side made any changes at half time despite a hapless first half by City. The game was effectively over on 50 minutes when City conceded a free kick on the edge of their penalty area. Shaqiri curled a shot into the net with Marshall again diving too late. 0-2.
Phelan finally reacted to the abject display by replacing Meyler with Hernandez. In truth it should have been Livermore who was awful.
Hernandez had a chance on 62 minutes.
On 67 minutes Huddlestone and Keane were replaced with Diamande and Maguire. City improved noticeably after that. Allen had a shot on 74 minutes well saved by Marshall.
City had the ball in the Stoke net on 81 minutes but were ruled offside.
City were unable to mount a sustained attack and a foul on Snodgrass in the last minute resulted in a protest by Clucas for which he was booked.
FT Hull City 0-2 Stoke City
So a thoroughly abject display by City ended in defeat. They now slip into the relegation zone and if they continue to play like this they will stay there. Appalling!
Tony Atkin, 22.10.16.
