nPower Championship: Hull City

The visit of Hull to Hillsborough would always be a tough game but Wednesday had a new belief about them, a product of achieving a 3-3 draw in their last outing against Burnley. Hull themselves were not getting the right results so the scene was set for a good match - both teams out to prove a point.




As the names are read by the announcer there are 2 noticeable reactions from the stands, the first - a huge cheer for Miguel Llera, replacing captain Martin Taylor and boo's for Jay Bothroyd. Wednesday kick off, attacking the West Stand and we're underway. The opening to the game is cagey with none of the teams wanting to make an early mistake and the first real chance falls to Hulls Sone Aluko as his effort from just outside the box fly past the post and wide. The home sides first real chance on goal come in the 6th minute when a 20 yard effort from Ross Barkley flies wide after good midfield play. Just a minute later and Hull have forced a corner, a short one from Aluko and Ahmed Elmohamady send a cross in that finds ex-Blade Stephen Quinn, his shot is blocked by Jose Semedo and when Abdoulaye Faye shoots with the follow up, Chris Kirkland makes the save. Rhys McCabe fouls Quinn for a free-kick to Hull and the strike by Paul McKenna is easily claimed by Kirkland. Up at the other end, Wednesday are a warded a free-kick when Quinn fouls Ross Barkley after Semedo battled had done well battling away. Joe Mattock has the shot from the free-kick that's saved by Ben Amos in Hull City's goal. The Owls are enjoying a nice bit of the play when O'Grady hits the ball to Michail Antonio, he squares to Barkley who flicks on to O'Grady who... fires a curling effort over the bar. Great play! Again the Owls look dangerous when Antonios shot squirms under Amos but just wide after good play from Bothroyd to create the chance. On the 18th minute Wednesday force a corner, a good delivery from McCabe is met by the head of Llera who claims the ball crossed the line but Elmohamady gets away with a goal line clearance. After a Kirkland point-blank save (which the striker was called as off-side anyway), Wednesday create a chance again with Antonio - as he turns a defender in the box and fires a low shot inches wide of the left hand post. When Paul McKenna fouls Semedo the referee shows the yellow for numerous fouls by the Hull midfielder. Lewis Buxton cuts out a cross and concedes a corner on the 34th minute and Alukos cross doesn't beat Bothroyd at the front post (a Wednesday-typical corner by Hull!). As the half comes to a close a perfect slide tackle takes a shooting opportunity away from Barkley after Bothroyd had done brilliantly providing the ball. After a cleared Hull corner, McKenna fires a cracking volleyed snapshot from outside of the box inches wide. Wednesday look to capitalise on this let off and Amos is forced into a save when Antonio breaks into the box and tries a chipped shot on goal.

HALF TIME. It's been a pretty even first half with chances at both ends, Quinn is doing well and looking dangerous for Hull. A clean sheet at half time is a bonus! I know you're eager to know my half time snack - it's a coffee and some Dairy Milk Oreo (taste sensation!).

The second half gets underway and Wednesday make a quick break, Barkley sees his cross ricochet off of a hand in the box but penalty claims are waved away as McShane clears. Only a perfectly timed slide tackle by Buxton prevents Aluko going through after he collected the clearance. Hull have started well and Liam Rosenior delivers a cross to Quinn who sees his shot blocked and Antonio prevents the follow up ball in by Elmohamady. The 50th minute sees Hull come close to opening the scoring when a driven Quinn shot is almost turned in by a sliding Jay Simpson. From that spurned chance Hull are on the back foot O'Grady holds the ball up well and plays Antonio in, only to see the winger fire over the bar from 25yards. Hulls summer signing from Sheffield United, Stephen Quinn, is helping Hull dominate the 2nd half and the space he is being allowed to find irritates the Wednesday fans. Joe Mattock clears a corner an Aluko corner after Antonio defended well, as Hull turn the pressure up. Wednesday are denied another penalty, this one more clear cut, when Antonio is felled in the box after being put through one on one with Ben Amos, a game changing decision. The home team try to put that disappointment behind them and a low drilled ball in by Barkley almost reaches Antonio but for Amos diving on the ball. On the hour mark Wednesday are fortunate not to be one down when Hull break into the box and Aluko prods the ball just wide with an outstretched Kirkland beaten. A change follows for the Owls when O'Grady is replaced by Gary Madine. The game turns scrappy with free-kicks being awarded each way for little fouls and no team can gain any momentum. Jermaine Johnson then enters the fray when he is brought on for Bothroyd - to a big round of applause, he's put a shift in that's for sure. With the recent record of both teams and the goals leaked by both defences it comes as no surprise when Hull slow the pace of the game, happy with a 0-0 draw already. Aaron McLean is brought onto the pitch replacing Jay Simpson for Hull and the sub makes an immediate impact, 90 seconds since entering the field he slots the ball past Kirkland from 12yards out and Hull lead 0-1. The goal wakes Wednesday up and JJ and Barkley work well together resulting in a chance for the Everton loanee who fires the ball over the net. 81mins in and Gary Madine manages to head the ball goal ward after an Antonio ball in, but unable to generate enough power the ball is easily saved by Amos. The very next attack sees a brilliant piece of play by JJ, cutting inside the box after beating his man and firing a low shot from the angle - saved again by Amos. Tactically, Steve Bruce - the Hull manager, makes substitutions to break the momentum Wednesday are building and Nick Proschwitz is brought on for the lively Aluko. The enigmatic Johnson then beats 2 men with a step over and a drag-back (that leaves Quinn on his rear end!) but his powered cross/shot goes wide. McCabe gets replaced by Mayor who the twitter-owls want to see more of. As the game is heading towards its end, Madine and Antonio play a neat spate of passes between each other but Seyi Olofinjana cuts out the final pass before Madine can force a shot. Hull are doing well keeping possession and the 'olé' chants rain down from the away end. Kirkland sees yellow after moaning at the decision to award Hull a late corner, which is taken short by Quinn and Wednesday can't get a foot on the ball. The referee blows the whistle for the final time today, Hull win 0-1 at Hillsborough, a result that sees Wednesday drop into the bottom 3. JJ and Mattock confront each other after the whistle and the scuffle is broken up by O'Grady before further confrontations occur in the tunnel between the two!

FT: The international break is much welcomed now, back to the drawing board and some serious work needs doing before our next game.

Attendance: 23,441 (league highest of the day)
Owls Man of the Match: Barkley