Hull no match for stylish Stoke City

Hull may have started brightly, trying to replicate Derby’s success last week, but stylish SuperMario and WonderPowell saw them off. Here’s how the game unfolded in real time:

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FIVE changes to play 2nd from bottom Hull. OK, 3rd from bottom as Derby have finally had some points deducted (& not for inexplicably beating City last week!). Adam Davies returns in goal for Bursik, Powell returns from injury, Demeaco Duhaney makes his starting debut for Cracker Smith down the right.

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2.12 As Vrancic thinks (wrongly) that he’s a left winger who can cross the ball, and Powell is floored in the box (& reckons it’s a penalty), we can admire the lovely pinky-red of keeper Matt Ingram. Another Hull fashion disaster.

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5.32 Josh shows Super-Mario how it’s done (crossing from left), but Pinky Ingram is down too quick for Powell.

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10.35 Returning Adam Davies earns his corn by saving a decent Hull chance, as off-side beater Tyler Smith tries to lob him.

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15.03 Hull hit the post, with Davies just tipping the shot on to the upright. Stoke losing the ball all over the place.

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16.55 Powell is tumbled over, but Capt Smallwood not only gives him a nasty shove, but kicks him on the floor then tramples all over him!! Powell has to be dragged away (very wisely) by Elder, but there’s not even a booking for that! The replay is very damning! Good thing for Hull there is no VAR.

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23.40 As a ball is flighted towards Powell, Nick has a look round to see if anyone else can take it instead! Really? Of course it was for you, Nick! You’re a striker now. You can’t hide behind Fletcher anymore!

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26.40 Clucas breaks the cardinal rule: when you have a chance to shoot, you shoot! Instead, he allows a tackle and wins a corner that flies over the bar.

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33.33 It’s a quiet moment. Somehow it doesn’t look great to look around and see adverts for pies, beer and gambling… but then again…

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34.07 1-0 A brilliant solo goal by Super-Mario Vrancic, dribbling into the penalty area, stumbled as the challenges come in, but still manages to smash it past Pinky!

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35.35 Duhaney is having a good game, good in the way that his trip on Lewis-Potter (not a real potter, I might add) is not even seen as a foul!

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37.55 Vrancic free kick curls just wide! Already going for a hat-trick!

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HT SuperMario City 1 Pinky City 0

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Attendance: 20,124

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50.20 Powell stretches the keeper. but Pinky plays a blinder, finger-tipping it away.

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57.40 2-0 !!! A BRILLIANT free-kick into the top right corner by Nick Powell, after Super-Mario pulls out of taking the kick. Clever stuff!

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64.00 Surridge replaces Vrancic. Powell drops back, Sawyers drops even further back.

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70.10 Alfie Doughty comes on for Josh Tymon.

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71.55 Chester almost gets a nosebleed as he almost taps in a Powell free kick from close range. Almost. Hull fans admit that they’re not very good.

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77.30 Capt Harry Souttar has picked up a knock, and is replaced by Danny Batth. It’s like the old days with Batth & Chester at the back. Oh no, what could possibly go wrong!

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80.49 Surridge has a shot on target shock-horror! Straight at the keeper, naturally. Pinky Ingram just waited there for it to arrive.

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86.35 Clucas is unfortunate to receive a yellow for a slightly over-zealous tackle. Naturally, he’s tres-indignant.

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89.15 Brown shoots just wide after a great move by Stoke, but Surridge blots his copybook with a dumb challenge on Pinky with the ball out of play, earning him a deserved yellow.

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Ft 2-0.