One or two in Hull Old Town. Taxi driver told us he'd took four from Humber Street to Walton Club before he picked us up and said they were glowing in praise for Hull City centre. But compared to Middlesboro I supposed that's not much praise at all.
I don't think it was a mistake making Henriksen captain at all, multiple times today he was pulling players to one side and talking to them. After the penalty was awarded he looked like he was telling Todd Kane to overlap more, or some sort of attacking instruction. He's not a shouty captain, that's fine, but he looked far more leaderlike today.
I enjoyed that game. However how the heck can Pulis spend all that money and end up with that horrendous hoof ball. Ok I know what they are all about but that was a abomination of the beautiful game today. Second thought is what did the Hammers see in Hugill, a diving cheating git. Overal we played well and where solid I thought. Elphwick and Martin the picks. Tuesday night will be a different affair! There was a Boro fan in front of me, loved shouting in his ear hole when Bowen slotted the penno home.
From what I saw of the game much of it was boring, it was telling that the highlights the stream showed at half time mainly consisted of fouls. No need to sugarcoat this we still don't have that many good players, Middlesbrough aren't that good either but i don't really care about that. I wonder if Bowen sometimes takes too much on because he thinks we depend on him doing more now (which is probably the case).
Great draw for City, but Christ that was two poor teams today. Back three looked to be more effective though, and will see us through Leeds’ high pressing on Tuesday.
Hugill seemed determined to be the villain today. He had everything; that weird foul on Lichaj where he just threw him to the ground while the ball was in the air, throwing an 'uncontested' throw in to the corner flag and immediately chasing it down, and of course the gratuitous way over the top dive to complete the set.
I watched him today. He never shut up, constant talking. And one or two blobs aside, he played way better than at Reading where he was shat.
Just remembered. Anyone else think the ref was compensating with the penalty award? Looked like a good shout when their lad climbed all over Martin but he didn't give it, then seconds later gives it when it looked softer? I was opposite end of the ground mind you, but it looked like Martin was really trying to be fouled for the one that was given.
It looked other way round when you saw the replays, first one was certainly soft - Ayala goes through the back of Martin for the second one; the more I saw it I thought it was nailed on.
Game could have gone either way but thought we deserved at least a point, they were well organised but thought they would come at us more. You couldn't tell who was at the top and who was at the bottom. Thought we looked better under todays new system and with a little bit more quality won have won it. Overall enjoyed the game. Leeds will be a bit more of an open game on Tuesday because they will come at us more another point would be good but it's always nice to beat them.
Decent performance from City today - I was particularly pleased to see that they didn't buckle under a Pulis team liberally sprinkled with muscle bound giants who seemed to be a bit unsteady on their feet and kept falling over at the lightest touch. The 'Boro supporters were the epitome of the "only sing when your winning" school, they woke up at the first goal but when the penalty went in it was just as if someone had flicked the off switch. Boro could do well this season but it will be much more to do with their physicality than their footballing abilities - they certainly don't look like a potential premier league team.
All in all sounds a much better performance, I really thought we would get done over today. Credit to Nigel for going 3-4-3, I like 3 at the back and if you have for tough games 2 wing backs that are defensive minded, it does give us more solidity in midfield and defence IMO. It's nice to hear Bowen took no truck from Turbo and didn't give in to him on the penalty, Nigel needs to have a word in Turbo's shell like, as that sort of thing can pray on the taker's mind.
It's good to hear an improved performance and a point against 2nd in the league not too bad, but puts bit of pressure to get something Tuesday night as we don't look like getting much away from home so need to start winning at home . I've just watched highlights and think we got lucky with the penalty , it was clever play from Martin , he almost kicked out his leg to force some contact , but one of them if given at the other end you wouldn't be happy , but nice to have a striker savvy enough to do those things.
The penalty? I've seen 'em given. It was won, rather than conceded. All part of a canny forwards kitbag. First one was nowt, mind.
