We can never complain that it’s dull being a Bluebird can we? Just as it seems we’ve bounced back nicely from that horrid Leeds debacle and subsequent timid loss to Pompey than we shoot ourselves in the foot by getting one of our few fit centre backs sent off against a relegation rival, away from home, whilst holding a solid looking 1-0 lead. Those are the breaks though and who knows, that point gained v Plymouth may yet prove invaluable. However, hot on the heels of Saturday’s big clash comes yet another of our regular ‘6 pointers’ against a Hull City side that 1 place better off than us as things currently stand thanks to a better goal difference (curse that Leeds result). Fingers crossed, our recent upturn in fortunes at the CCS will see us past a rather unpredictable Tigers team that come to us off the back of an impressive victory on Saturday. Who Are You? A bit like Plymouth in our last game, it’s been all change at the MKM too since we last faced up to the Tigers. Out went Tim Walter in November with him being swiftly replaced by Ex-Southampton & Reading gaffer Ruben Selles just about a week or so later. Under Walter the Tigers had gone on a 9 game run without victory, plunging them to 22nd in the table and the hope was that Selles would bring some of his ‘success’ with him when he was poached from the troubled Berkshire club, however, despite one or two eye catching wins it’s pretty fair to say that it’s not really gone to plan thus far for the big spending Humberside club. Since taking over the hot-seat, Selles has a win ratio of 33.3%, amassing 5 wins in 16 games (W5 D4 L6). Hull’s top scorer so far this year is Italian Joao Pedro, with 5 goals from 25 games. The Striker arriving on a free transfer from Cagliari in September. Next on the scoring charts is Ivorian Chris Bedia with just 3 in 21, and then a handful of others, including the tricky Abu Kamara on 2 each. Familiar names in the squad are ex-Bluebird loanee and crowd favourite Cody Drameh. Another ex-Leeds player in striker Joe Gelhardt who is on loan from the table topping Whites, but he has just a single goal in 7 appearances so far. Louie Barrie on loan from Villa will be one to keep an eye on, and there is lots of experience with the likes of Matt Crooks, John Egan & club captain Lewie Coyle. Last Time Out & Form Last time out saw Omer Riza take charge of the Bluebirds for the first time, albeit as interim manager following Erol Bulit’s sacking. City were without a win in 6 and had just a solitary point to their name when Riza took the beleaguered team to the MKM. Hull on the other hand were looking at pushing for the play-offs having backed Tim Walter during the summer. The game ended up being far, fer closer than the final scoreline of 4-1 suggested, with the Bluebirds showing some glimpses of promising play under the new manager with realistically finishing and defending being the deciding factors between the 2 sides who were seemingly destined for battles at very different ends of the table after the final whistle. Once again (as is normally the way with struggling teams) form between us and our oppoinent is very similar, with Hull picking up just 7 points from the last 16 on offer (we have one less over the same period), however, 6 of those 7 points have been gained, rather unexpectedly away from home via a thumping 3-0 win at Bramall Lane and an impressive 1-0 win last time out at the Stadium of Light, proving that, despite their troubles, Hull must definitely have something about them. We are actually on a lengthy losing streak v the Tigers, having not beaten them since a ‘behind closed doors’ game during the covid campaign in July 2020 some 8 games back. Our results since then read P7 L7! Statistically Hull have the 22nd best (or 3rd worst) attack in the division scoring 33 goals in 33 games. However, defensively they fare a lot better, having the 11th best defence, conceding 43 times over those 33 matches. Rather worryingly for the Bluebirds, taking just their away form – Hull are actually the 9th best side in the division, clocking up an impressive 20 of their 33 points on the road. In, Out Or No Sign Of Them About Quite how this has happened I have no idea, but we go from a rosy, very much improving picture on the squad front to now looking at seriously bare bones in a few areas in what feels like the blink of an eye. Definitely out still are; Jesper Daland (shin injury/stitches) Ollie Tanner (foot fracture) David Turnbull (returning to fitness) and now; Dimi Goutas (ban). Potentially we could also see jak Alnwick now spend time on the treatment table with what was a suspected hamstring issue picked up v Plymouth. Fair play to him though for seeing the game out knowing we were already down to 10 and with no subs left to make. Callum Robinson may be back and there is still no news on Alex Robertson (hamstrung). Hopefully Callum Chambers will now be fit for this one having missed the last couple through illness. Better news came in the shape of Isaak Davies getting some minutes under his belt and skipper Joe Ralls will also be in contention after being an unused substitute in Devon. Despite a bright showing, it may be deemed too much for Aaron Ramsey to start a midweek game after seeing out the entirety of the match on Saturday. Predicted Starting 11 Horvath Ng Fish Bagan O’Dowda Mannsverk Ralls Ashford Salech Colwill Alves The Odds Bods Home 6/4 Draw 23/10 Away 17/10 Match Day Melody If we’re going to get anything out of tonight we’ll need to tame these pesky visitors. Blooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds!!! EDIT: I've left it so late for the thread (sorry) we actually have the starting line up....
Better late than never BB Forgot Hull won 3-0 at Sheff U as well as a shock victory at Sunderland; hope they’ve got travel sickness tonight
Well done Brizzle. I'm probably not up to speed but where's Alves and Ramsey? This was going to be tough anyway but now .. Nevertheless Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds
Apologies for the late running of this service guys... Had to work a bit late this week and haven't found time to skive off in between to get much done towards the thread either... Looks like a pretty attack minded line up... Question is, is Robbo playing as a 10 or are we going 2 up top??
Ramsey fit enough for 90+ on Saturday but not even on bench tonight. Wonder if he’s being saved for Villa or Burnley next midweek?
I reckon Burnley. Villa is a free hit game and sadly not as important to us whilst we're still in the mire. Had we pulled away a bit more then I'd be all for going for it v Villa but I'm nowhere near as sure now.
A bit concerned about that lineup. CB looking a bit sketchy. Does Fish normally play left or right? Thought he might have gone Fish and Bagan at CB with Chambers along side Mannsverk. Front 4 look OK, though bench looks a bit light.
Nice OP, but point of order, we're from East Yorkshire. H*mberside was a bastardized non county, and is deservedly in the dustbin of history. The views expressed in my posts are not necessarily mine.
Thank you for your observations... Duly noted for next season when we hopefully cross swords again. Now, if you could see your way to having an off evening away from home we'd be most grateful.
You should play us in Hull more often, four effing home wins in thirteen a half months, and just two of them this season. Hey ho. The views expressed in my posts are not necessarily mine.
Hull - 67% possession without one shot. This is a game to be won not drift along for a draw. Willock is a passenger. Colwill needs to be on 2nd half.
Solid enough this far and some promising moments not fully taken advantage of. Was getting a bit concerned how much Hull were starting to get on top but they never actually mustered a shot on target during the first half, so maybe it wasn't as bad as it felt??
63 minutes gone and positive changes. Good that he's not leaving changes until the last minute. Robertson and Davies on for Robinson and Willock.
Jeez that was nerve jangling towards the end there. Some very good showings again. Plus I get a clean sweep in the prediction league, woohoo. Massive 3 points, especially with Stoke losing too. Very relieved.
Hey ho, that should go a long way to seeing you safe this season. We've got Plymouth at home next up, more ennui. The views expressed in my posts are not necessarily mine.
When we got to 7 minutes into 5 minutes added on, I thought the ref was waiting to let them score. A much needed win which eases the pressure slightly. Good to see Salech and Robinson start together. Positive changes in a timely manner. We just need to rinse and repeat.
This is going to sound ungrateful given the three points but when is Riza going to realise he has a squad that can win by more than one. And when will he realise that one is never enough +tonight being an exception). I thought the team selection was strange to say the least. Please tell me he's not doing some sort of rotation with just a dozen games to go. Now I've got that off my chest, well done for tonight. Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds
I said as much on another thread. 4231 with square pegs in square holes. Best 11 to start every game from now until the end of the season. Enough depth in the front 4 for early substitutions if needed.
