Daryl Murphy hit the post but Town’s home game with Hull City remains 0-0 at half-time.

Mick McCarthy made three changes with top scorer Brett Pitman coming in up front and Jonathan Douglas and Luke Hyam returning to the central midfield roles in the anticipated 4-4-2 formation.

Douglas was back after a three-match ban and Hyam from a calf injury which had sidelined him for the last two games.

Kevin Bru and Kevin Foley both dropped to the bench, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles wasn’t in the 18.

Hull made nine changes from the team which drew 0-0 at Arsenal in the FA Cup on Saturday with only Curtis Davies and David Meyler keeping their places.

Freddie Sears created the game’s first excitement in the sixth minute when he broke past Andrew Robertson down the Town right but his cross was too deep for strike pair Pitman and Murphy.

There was a scare for the Blues in the 10th minute when Tommy Smith got the ball caught under his feet and lost possession to Abel Hernández not far outside the area on the left.

The New Zealand international hauled the Uruguayan down as he looked to break into the box with only Bartoz Bialkowski to beat and was perhaps fortunate not to see a yellow card.

Robert Snodgrass took the freekick and sent it curling away from Bialkowski to his left, but the on-form Polish keeper got across to superbly tip it past the post.

Hull had most of the ball in the opening 20 minutes but with the freekick their only chance, while the Blues occasionally threatened to create an opening on the break.

On 25 Hernández shot over, then Smith did superbly to block a Mohamed Diamé effort from the left of the area after he had appeared to have got away from the Town central defender.

A minute later, the Blues claimed a penalty when Pitman looked to be shoved as a Sears cross came over from the left. The ball was bundled out of play and from Pringle’s corner Berra’s header was stabbed behind.

Town were by now in charge and on 27 Murphy saw a shot deflect wide, Hull subsequently making heavy weather of clearing the danger after the resultant corner.

In the 37th minute, the Blues went within a whisker of going in front. Pringle, the man on all Town’s set pieces, whipped in a near post freekick from the left, which skipper Luke Chambers headed against a defender.

The loose ball fell to Murphy, who lashed a shot which struck the inside of the post and flashed across the goalmouth before being cleared.

Five minutes later, another Pringle freekick from the left caused more danger, the ball falling to Chambers a few yards out but the Blues’ captain was unable to get in a clean strike and the ball looped harmlessly to Tigers keeper Allan McGregor.

Town were ended the half on top, Sears making a strong run through the middle before shooting over, then Douglas similarly going to high with a strike from distance.

Hull had started the half the stronger side but with Snodgrass’s freekick which was superbly saved by Bialkowski their only chance.

Town grew into the game and by half-time were in charge and had created chances, several from Pringle’s excellent set pieces.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Douglas, Hyam, Pringle, Sears, Pitman, Murphy. Subs: Gerken, Digby, Foley, Tabb, Bru, Touré, Varney.

Hull City: McGregor, Odubajo, Dawson (c), Davies, Robertson, Snodgrass, Meyler, Livermore, Clucas, Diamé, Hernández. Subs: Jakupović, Huddlestone, Maguire, Maloney, Akpom, Powell, Elmohamady. Referee: Brendan Malone (Wiltshire).

Photo: Action Images

patthegimp added 21:47 - Feb 23 Now 10th and sinking. Team tired and devoid of genuine talent. Time to start blooding the young players. We have nothing else to do this year.
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martleshamitfc added 21:54 - Feb 23 @ patthegimp That would mean dropping his favourites!
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