Hull v Man City Report
By Tiger Tim
November 17 2008
Hull and Manchester City Both went into the Game at the KC on the back of 3 defeats. Hull were without Defender Andy Dawson. Man City were without suspended duo Gelson and Richard Dunne. Someoes Luck had to change but who would come out on top? Both teams started the game Full of Confidence but it was Manchester City who had the 1st chance of the game, Robinho Firing a free kick wide.
Moments later Hull got their 1st sight at goal but Captain Ian Ashbee put a weak shot wide. Hull City manager Phil Brown: "The confidence levels of the players seemed to sap after the equalising goal and I've always said that if you stick to the basics it will come right. "We got the basics readjusted after half-time and came out with a game plan that put Man City on the back foot and it was an exciting second half." Manchester City manager Mark Hughes: "We are disappointed with the second goal because we didn't think it was a free-kick and they benefited from that," said Hughes "It's all about interpretation. We felt a bit hard done by and maybe similar situations weren't given in our favour." Teams Booked: McShane, Marney. Goals: Cousin 14, Geovanni 60. Man City: Hart (Schmeichel 19), Zabaleta, Richards, Ben-Haim, Garrido, Wright-Phillips, Kompany, Ireland, Mwaruwari (Jo 76), Robinho, Vassell. Booked: Ben-Haim, Wright-Phillips, Ireland. Goals: Ireland 37, 45. Att: 24,902 Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
14 minutes in and Hull got the Break Through.A mix up in the Man City Defence when Ben Haim tried to pass the ball back to joe hart cousin got in 1st and poked the ball passed the keeper. Joe Hart was injured as Cousin scored the goal and was replaced by Kasper Schmeichel.
37 minutes played and manchester City Equalized . Some shocking defending from Zayatte 1st he took the ball off the toes of Myhill and then tired to run across the box with it but he played it too far ahead of himself and ireland had the simple task of sliding the ball into the goal. Manchester City took the lead just before half time Ireland again with a great curling shot into the right hand corner of Myhills goal.
Half Time Hull 1-2 Manchester City
Hull started the Second hal the brightest.Marlon king crossed the ball into the box and Geovanni Fired over with an overhead kick. It was that man again King who had another chance this time having a shot which was easy for Schmeichel to save. Geovanni then began to find his range with a free kick from 35 yards which he fired over. Hull were looking more likely to score as Manchester city failed to creat any chances.
Hull did get their Eqaulizer on the hour mark Geovanni hit a freekick from the centre of the goal it hit Vincent Kompany in the wall and wrong footed schmeichel in the net. Momets later Hull nearly got in front again. Ricketts crossed the ball into cousins who headed it straight at the Man City keeper. Hull kept Pressing and looked the most likely to find the winner. Geovanni screwed a shot wide.
Manchester City did have Chances though Vassell having shot blocked in the Hull area. The game began to get scrappy with 8 minutes remaining. Hull got a free kick which Geovanni Stepped up to take not once not twice but 3 times!. Manchester City players were running from the wall before the ball was struck on the 1st two occassions. 1st Wright-Phillips getting booked then Ireland. The 3rd time the ball was deflected wide for a corner. From the Corner Schmeichel pushed the ball away from danger.
The game entered the last 5 minutes and Machester City looked to grab the winner. Vassell having a shot saved by Myhill, He just couldn't lift the ball over the keeper. Manchester City then had 2 corners both were wiped in by Ireland but Richards couldn't connect with either cross properly has he headed over then wide. Full time and it ended 2-2 great game to watch and a draw was probably a fair result.
Manager views
"To come in at half-time at 1-1 would have been ok but to go 2-1 down having gone 1-0 up can destroy you.
"We're reasonably pleased given the start we had, but we showed good character to come back strongly.
Hull: Myhill, McShane, Turner, Zayatte, Ricketts, Boateng (Halmosi 85), Ashbee, Marney, Geovanni, Cousin (Barmby 76), King.
Subs Not Used: Duke, Doyle, Garcia, Folan, Giannakopoulos.
Subs Not Used: Onuoha, Michael Ball, Hamann, Elano, Evans.
Match stats Hull City Manchester City Goals 2 2 Shots on Target 5 8 Shots off Target 5 4 Corners 3 6 Offsides 2 4 Yellow Cards 2 3 Red Cards 0 0 Fouls Won 15 17 Fouls Conceded 17 15 Possession 52% 48%