Stoke 2 Hull 0 – 25/09/21 3pm
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.