Ravens View of Hull

Last updated : 22 August 2005 By Mark R

Another 90 minutes of what could have been, we played some good football at times, better than Hull IMHO but we didn't look like scoring and the service to the front players was dreadful.

The day started well, we used the new direct London to Hull train service run by Hull trains, and arrived 2 minutes early! We met our mates in the Whalebone, it had some great pictures from Hull in the 40's and 50's including some of the football and our course Rugby league.

We moved on, couldn't find our next pub, so ended up in one called The Clarence. Next it was back towards the station and time for another swift beer before heading to the ground.

Its on the same road as the old ground but this one is a lot nearer the station. It looks impressive from the outside (very strange looking floodlights) and was just as impressive inside.

There were lots of police about following the incidents at the QPR game, and the home fans next to us had been moved back a block. The noise they made was impressive, best home support for a long time.

The match - well - neither side looked like scoring for long periods of the game. Chippy was slightly better than last Saturday, but Oatway was poor again.

Hammond is our best midfield prospect and McGhee keeps insisting on playing him out wide. The Referee was very harsh on CKR for 45 minutes and all he ended up with was a yellow card.

Second half we looked much better, Knight and McCammon linked up well, Hammond did his best to get forward. Peter "quitter" Taylor wound us up by showing us what a lovely ground Hull have, surly he has more to him than having to mock us, I thought he was a wan*er before Saturday, now I know he is.

No doubt a nice warm welcome will be waiting for him at Withdean.

We gave away both goals, first saw Charlie caught in possession, then Knight also got robbed and he rolled round on the floor looking for the free kick. Hull played on and I think it was a deflected shot that was in the net before Henderson had moved!

They didn't deserve the lead.

At half time Robinson and CKR were replaced by McCammon and Nicolas. McCammon had more of a physical presence about him the CKR and worried the defence and had a couple of tame efforts.

Knight also should have done better, but like McCammon couldn't get a decent connection with the ball.

At times we played very very flat in midfield and knocked the ball square as we had no inspirational ball players to take on the hull midfield and defence. How Oatway and Carpenter are automatic choices and immune from being taken off despite playing badly winds me up. It appears they are untouchable.

McCammon probably should have scored after failing to meet a Knight cross, he then put in a crunching tackle on the keeper. Minutes later Nicolas pulled out of a 50/50 tackle, which seemed to set the tone.

Just before the end Burgess breaks away after Dodd pulled out of a tackle, Butters was never going to make it across, but Henderson saved well, only for Burgess to get the rebound.

After the game the away section was heavily segregated, but you end up going round the fences and past the sad Hull Burberry boys strutting around hiding behind the police in riot gear. Sad muppets, still as recently confirmed Hull is the worst place to live in the UK!

Anyway roll on Shrewsbury tomorrow night - still not sure why I am going!

Henderson - 6 not at fault for the goals, made one good save, pushing the ball over

Dodd - 4 looks slow and his distribution was poor again

McShane - 6 solid display again

Butters - 5 caught for pace for the goal

Reid - 6 solid

Oatway - 3 not sure what he is doing any more

Carpenter - 5 more involved than Saturday, but we don't get forward

Knight - 7 my MOTM, ran and ran and ran

Hammond - 6 was dead on his legs by the final whistle - NO support when going forward

CKR - 5 marked out the game

Robinson - 5 drifted in and out the game, but no support from midfield

Nicolas - 5 likes going backwards and sideways

McCammon - 7 pushed Knight for my MOTM, worked hard

Chaigneau, El-Abd and unbelievably Carole not used