Goals from ex-Blue Alex Bruce, Chuba Akpom and David Meyler saw Hull City to a comfortable victory over Town at the KC Stadium. Sub Bruce headed the opener in the 36th minute, Akpom made it 2-0 seven minutes later and Meyler vollyed home a brilliant third on 58.

Town boss Mick McCarthy made five changes to the team which drew 0-0 with Huddersfield on Saturday with Giles Coke handed his first league start alongside Jonny Parr, Kevin Bru, Larsen Touré and Daryl Murphy.

Cole Skuse (ankle) and David McGoldrick (groin) both missed out due to injury with Freddie Sears, Brett Pitman and Ainsley Maitland-Niles dropping to the bench.

Ryan Fraser (knee), Tommy Oar (concussion), Luke Hyam (knee) and Teddy Bishop (hamstring and shin splints) were also unavailable.

The Blues lined-up in a 4-3-3/4-5-1 formation with Murphy in the centre of the front three with Parr on the left and Touré on the right, and Coke, Douglas and Bru the midfield trio.

Former Town loanee Jake Livermore started in midfield for the Tigers, while ex-Blues defender Bruce and one-time trialist Eldin Jakupović were on the bench.

The Blues started on the front foot and first Douglas, playing the Skuse role behind Bru and Coke, and then Touré won freekicks in dangerous areas but Town were unable to create an opening from either.

The visitors continued to look the more dangerous side and on nine Coke saw a strike from the edge of the area blocked by Moses Odubajo after a corner had been cleared to him. The home side immediately broke but Andy Robertson shot high and wide.

In the 12th minute Ahmed Elmohamady crossed for Abel Hernandez, who headed into the ground straight at Blues keeper Dean Gerken.

But the Blues were still having most of the ball and the game was largely being played in the Hull half of the field.

Just before the quarter hour, with the Blues enjoying long spells on the ball, Murphy’s backheel found skipper Luke Chambers on the right of the area and his powerful strike was deflected into the side-netting.

The home fans were starting to show their frustration with their team when Touré was given the space to shoot a minute later, the Guinean international’s effort hitting a Tigers defender.

Moments later Hull were forced into a substitution when defender Curtis Davies was replaced by ex-Blue Bruce.

Gerken was off his line quickly to clear from Hernandez in the 19th minute after the Uruguayan striker had been played in by Robertson.

In the 25th minute sub Bruce picked up the game’s first yellow card for an ugly challenge on Bru 30 yards out from goal. Full league debutant Coke took the kick and curled a shot just wide of Hull keeper Allan McGregor’s left post.

There was a scare for the Blues just before the half hour when Elmohamady out-ran Jonas Knudsen and cut the ball back to Sam Clucas in space but the ex-Chesterfield man scuffed what was a very good chance wide.

Two minutes later, Coke got his name in referee Christopher Kavanagh’s book for a foul on Meyler.

The home side were beginning to quieten the Blues down and get on top and in the 34th minute Elmohamady sent over another dangerous cross from the right but Hernandez again headed weakly to Gerken.

In the 36th minute the Tigers went in front. Parr and Tommy Smith scrambled the ball away from Bruce after Clucas’s corner from the left had fallen for the defender in the box. But the danger wasn’t gone and Clucas subsequently sent over a deep cross from the byline to the far post and Bruce looped a header over Gerken, under the bar and into the net.

Murphy looked to hit back straight away, turning his man and smashing a powerful 30-yard shot, but straight at McGregor.

On 40 Tigers skipper Michael Dawson was booked for pulling back Parr midway inside his own half. From the freekick, Christophe Berra scuffed a header wide.

Two minutes later, Meyler volleyed not far over from the edge of the box, but a second Hull goal wasn’t too long in coming.

Parr lost possession, Odubajo broke down the left and sent over a low cross towards Akpom, who slammed home from close range.

Neither side threatened again before referee Kavanagh blew his whistle to signal the end of the half.

Town will have been happy enough with their evening’s work up to the final 10 minutes of the period having taken the game to the home side and enjoying a large amount of the ball.

However, they had created little in the way of clear-cut chances with Hull keeper McGregor not forced to make any significant saves.

For the goals, the Blues made heavy weather of clearing the initial danger then allowed Bruce to win the ball when it was sent back in, while the second came after possession was surrendered in a dangerous area.

With Town having a mountain to climb in the second half, McCarthy swapped Parr and Coke for Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Freddie Sears and moved to 4-4-2.

Four minutes after the break, the Blues were caught cold as Hull took a quick freekick on the right, Elmohamady sending over a cross which Gerken pawed from under his bar.

But Town were also making some early headway and shortly after Bru had felt he’d been fouled not far outside the box, Sears scraped a 25-yard shot wide.

On 52 Elmohamady broke away down the right having been sent away by Hernandez but Berra got across to block his shot.

Five minutes later, Akpom cuts inside from the right and shot just over, then Elmohamady volleyed over with the Tigers by now well on top.

And the home fans didn’t have to wait too much longer for their side’s third goal. Clucas’s cross from the left was deflected into the air to the edge of the box and Meyler took the ball on his chest and volleyed past Gerken.

Brett Pitman replaced Touré in the 72nd minute with the home side well in control and a Town comeback looking hugely unlikely.

Maitland-Niles squandered a rare Town opportunity as the game moved into its final 10 minutes, the lively Sears’s cross from the right deflecting to the on-loan Arsenal man, who shanked his shot at 90 degrees to the target.

With five minutes remaining Maitland-Niles was fouled by Meyler 25 yards out to the left of goal and Pitman forced McGregor into his first serious save of the evening down to his left, Clucas turning the loose ball behind. Following the corner, Douglas shot over from the edge of the box, the Blues’ final effort of another disappointing evening.

Town’s poor run of form continues with McCarthy’s men now without a win in five league games, having won just once in their last eight in the Championship. They have dropped to 11th in the table and are now without a goal in three games.

After enjoying a decent first half hour, albeit without creating much in front of goal, the Blues never recovered from Hull’s two quick goals shortly before half-time and in the end were well beaten.

Any hope of a second-half comeback was ended by Meyler’s excellent third and the Tigers comfortably saw out the remainder of the game.

Town’s early season dreams of an automatic promotion challenge currently seem a long, long way away with another tough trip to Nottingham Forest - where they are without a win since December 1999 - on Saturday.

Hull City: McGregor, Odubajo, Dawson (c) (Maguire 80), Davies (Bruce 18), Robertson, Meyler, Livermore, Elmohamady, Clucas, Akpom, Hernandez (Aluko 68). Unused: Jakupović, Huddlestone, Maloney, Diamé.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Coke (Maitland-Niles 46), Bru, Douglas, Touré (Pitman 72), Parr (Sears 46), Murphy. Unused: Bialkowski, Malarczyk, McDonnell, Emmanuel. Referee: Christopher Kavanagh (Lancashire). Att: 15,942 (Town: 456).

Photo: Action Images

Tractastic added 00:07 - Oct 22 Gino88 - Great post and I think your considered comments are spot on.
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warktheline added 06:49 - Oct 22 @bert, if living in the past makes you happy, you keep looking back!
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Dwillams57 added 07:17 - Oct 22 I agree with you Geoff. At least we were lucky enough to see them during bobbys era. Don't think we realised how good they were then-we certainly know now. I would love to think things will improve but can't see it at moment. End of an era for me I am afraid which is sad.
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runningout added 08:30 - Oct 22 do I waste my time going to Forest??
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Bert added 08:54 - Oct 22 No warktheline, that's what you and your moaners do all the time. It's about today's circumstances not what you would like it to be. The past influences the future so being £40m in debt means both Evans and MM have little wriggle room. Just be realistic and stop maligning the club. It will get better.
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yorksblue added 09:25 - Oct 22 @dirtydingusmagee I'm quite pleased. I predicted 4-1
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GiveusaWave added 09:30 - Oct 22 Runningout I haven't got tickets. If I had tickets I'd go. I think there is going to be a huge reaction from the players for this game. Coke needs to prove that he's a professional footballer. At the moment he's proving all the Wednesday fans right, who rated him as one of their worst signings ever. Douglas needs to raise his standard back to his Brentford days (where he was consistently good). Murphy needs to show he's back to form. Knudsen needs to prove himself, as does Gerken. There will be a whole bunch of players there who will be trying to prove themselves. Think this game is particularly significant for the likes of a Coke and Toure, who may find it impossible to get back into the team when our injured return (this really is their last chance...unless we get more injured of course!). Douglas seems to get picked anyway regardless of performance so maybe this game isn't as significant for him. If you are reading this Coke and Toure this is your chance. This is your chance to silence the doubters. One great game and you'll win the fans over and they'll scream for your return.

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bohslegend added 09:46 - Oct 22 @Bert you are spot on. this site (although strangely not the forum section) is a magnet for the FIFA16 expert managers and those who claim to be "supporters" but do nothing but slate the manager, individual players, the owner, everyone. Can't see how that's considered support.
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dirtydingusmagee added 10:03 - Oct 22 Yorksblue,shame on you,
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Surco72 added 10:27 - Oct 22 Don't hide behind the money excuse , plenty of managers achieve with no investment Teaching footballers positioning , ability to control the ball , small quick passing game on the floor , running into space , delivering good balls into the box from wide , coming off your line as a keeper ..... these things involve no investment at all they involve coaching and picking the right players in the right positions Passing the ball to the back four to hoof it as high near Murphys head and all the other players run and try to get near it and force set pieces and try and nick a goal with long throws by hurling any ball into the box is what they have been taught because that is how our manager plays he has done it at every club / nation he has been at . That is why players get singled out for criticism like Smith ,Tabb, Anderson , Chambo , Douglas, Parr because they are not playing their natural roles

6

warktheline added 10:31 - Oct 22 @bert, I guess that's why McCarthy continues to play players out of position! Get real. You view on things are a general overall picture, and to a point I'm in agreement, but take a closer look at proceedings over the last 10 months and you'll find that picture is becoming blotted!
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Lightningboy added 10:48 - Oct 22 @gino88 - totally spot on..the difference is that we had a manager with some tactical nouse in Burley..I for one still dream that he,Magilton and Holland will return here one day as a management team.
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TimmyH added 11:17 - Oct 22 @bert - I think you'll find we were well in debt when ME decided to get those monkeys in (Keane and Jewell) from 2009 and was given the licence to splash the cash on generally some pretty useless players. ME is now obviously trying to recoup that money HE made the mistakes on in the first place.
4

renoble added 13:06 - Oct 22 We are on a bad run, that is clear for everyone to see...but ultimately we need a decent left back if we are not going to play Parr. I hear Matt Richards is as Dagenham, roll back the years lol!! Also the goalkeeper situation, Arren Le Barratt still available on a free
0

essex57 added 15:43 - Oct 22 Bert probably the most sensible post all season
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warktheline added 15:58 - Oct 22 If your comparing that post to yours essex57, then I wholeheartedly agree!
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Bert added 16:17 - Oct 22 Whatever the rights and wrongs, draw a line and get behind the team whoever is in the shirt. Calm will return when the players can feel the support.
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warktheline added 17:11 - Oct 22 @bert, if only life was that simple, maybe McCarthy should of shown the fans similar support instead of telling them to foxtrot Oscar weeks back, , and then again at the weekend showing them total disrespect! Unfortunately it has highlighted to many ,McCarthy's utter contempt to the paying public...my way or the highway!!!! Unless the man reviews on the pitch selections, and holds himself accountable for this '10 month blip ' I'll take the highway.

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essex57 added 17:20 - Oct 22 Whatever Warktheline
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blueboy1981 added 18:23 - Oct 22 warktheline ...... you've always had a balanced view, and have in the earlier days backed MM to the extreme. Those were the days when we 'locked horns' to some degree, but in my opinion mutual respect was always there. There are posters on here (always self identifiable) who would be satisfied whatever - the problem with these people is that they will always be prepared to sink gracefully with the Club, and with whatever happens. I am totally convinced that they would have the same views if we were playing in the Thurlow Nunn League - such is there ambition (or lack of ... !!!). Thankfully some of us wish for, want, and expect more - god forbid if we were all like the 'you know who's' of this forum. I've refrained from getting too 'dragged in' with debate with such people recently - not at all worth the hassle - because you'll never get thro' the 'forever satisfied' barrier. Maybe that is the strongest reason we may never return to previous status as an outstanding Club..... !!!

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warktheline added 20:48 - Oct 22 Where's oddball gone, essex57 needs him!
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essex57 added 22:05 - Oct 22 Whatever Blueboy1981
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warktheline added 23:00 - Oct 22 Essex57, whatever whatever..... Sums you up, clueless, blind faith! Totally unable to construct a credible defence.
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Bert added 23:13 - Oct 22 As Alan Sugar said last week " even if you don't think the product is right, you still get behind it". Constructive criticism is fine but when it is done in such a manner to ridicule players it is simply shallow, self serving and turns supporters against each other.
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essex57 added 11:51 - Oct 23 I speak my opinion take it or leave it whatever Warktheline if what I say upsets you so much don't read it there's no need for you to question my intelligence at every opportunity though.
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