Hull City v WBA Full Match Report

By Jemma Tappenden
February 4 2007

After securing 3 points midweek Albion looked to repeat their fortunes at the KC stadium this weekend to keep the pressure on in the Championship. Could the Baggies record their 6th consecutive league win?

A midweek victory over Plymouth Argyle put the Baggies within a point of Preston North End. Searching for yet another win in the league this weekend they travelled to Hull City’s KC stadium.

The first half saw little action, with the Baggies shading what was overall a poor half of football. It was Kamara who threatened the goal first in the 7th minute, and only minute later defender Curtis Davies fired wide of the mark after dispossessing Dean Marney on the edge of the box. Albion’s best chance of the half fell to Kevin Phillips, who missed the chance to put the Baggies 1 up from 8 yards, after latching onto Neil Clement’s free kick into the box. Albion fans looked on in disbelief as 12 goal Phillips fluffed his shot. It was Hull who had the next chance of the game, again missing from only yards as Damien Delaney headed inches over the bar from a corner. An unusual mistake from Curtis Davies allowed the home side to go dangerously close again as Jon Parkin struck just wide of the left post in the 23rd minute. Dean Kiely made his first real save in the 28th minute as Hull City Midfielder Marney fired in a ferocious volley. Kiely was called into action again just minutes later as Nicky Forster forced a shot which the keeper just fingered round the post. Chaplow found the side netting 9 minutes before the break, but Hull missed a chance to go 1 up after Neil Clement pulled off an amazing last minute challenge to deny Parkin a tap in from a Forster cross. The Baggies ended the half the stronger team, Jason Koumas blazing in a 25 yard shot just short of the left post.

Albion started the second half strongly, and it was Kamara again who was the first to test Hull keeper Myhill. Kamara tested the Hull defence time and time again as Albion searched for the breakthrough – first latching onto a pass from Paul McShane, then again moments later after linking up with Koumas. There was a very brief reprieve for Hull City keeper Myhill, but it did not last long. On the hour mark Koumas beat two Hull City defenders, slotting in a tidy pass to Kamara who fired home confidently with a left footed shot. The deadlock was broken, and Mowbray made a double change – Koumas and Phillips making way for Ellington and Gera. Ellington had the chance to put the Baggies 2 up in the 68th minute, but Myhill collected the ball from his header. In the 77th minute Hull City went down to 10 men after substitute Ryan France was stretchered off after a challenge with Paul Robinson. Hull had already used their 3 subs. The Baggies kept up the pressure, and Koren, Ellington and Kamara all missed golden opportunities to seal the game. But 1 goal was enough in the end to gain the Baggies 3 vital points, which saw them keep their first clean sheet away from home in 4 months, gain a 6th consecutive league victory and move to third place in the table.

Local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers were not so fortunate as they looked to build on their 1 nil victory at Carrow Road on Tuesday. Wolves desperately needed a win to keep up with the pack, but could only manage a point at Molineux against Plymouth Argyle. Missing Breen and McNamara after red cards on Tuesday, Wolves twice came from behind. New boy Ward scoring his first Wolves goal after linking up well with fellow newbie Andy Keogh, and Seyi-George Olofinjana scoring Wolves second from only yard out from a corner kick. Wolves remain in 10th place.