Kamil Grosicki netted a goal in each half as Hull City defeated the Blues 2-0 at Portman Road. Town saw plenty of the ball throughout and had the ball cleared off the line twice in the first half but the Tigers were far more clinical with Polish international Grosicki taking opportunities in the 14th and 49th minutes and the visitors never looked in much trouble once they had established their two-goal lead.

The Blues were without Matthew Pennington, who has suffered a season-ending ankle injury, and Teddy Bishop, while Collin Quaner dropped to the bench.

Pennington, who has been on loan for the season from Everton, was replaced at the centre of the defence by Toto Nsiala, while Cole Skuse returned alongside Jon Nolan and Trevoh Chalobah for Bishop in midfield. Up front, Kayden Jackson started.

Hull made four changes with Todd Kane, Eric Lichaj, Jordy de Wijs and Dan Batty coming into the side.

Town made the early running, winning a number of corners in the opening minutes but without seriously testing Tigers goalkeeper and skipper David Marshall.

Hull threatened for the first time on 10, when Blues skipper Luke Chambers diverted a header from a Kamil Grosicki freekick wide.

Soon after, Jackson Irvine’s shot from the edge of the box looped goalwards under the bar but was confidently claimed by Bartosz Bialkowski.

However, in the 14th minute the Tigers went ahead. A low ball in from the right was cleverly dummied by Marc Pugh and found its way to Fraizer Campbell, who fed Grosicki to his left and the Polish international struck a low shot which Nsiala was unable to prevent from hitting the net.

Town suffered a further blow four minutes later when Jon Nolan was forced off with an injury following treatment on the pitch. Andre Dozzell replaced the Liverpudlian midfielder.

On 21 Myles Kenlock hit the Blues’ first shot of the afternoon having cut in from the left but sent the ball well over the bar with his right foot.

Eight minutes later, Gwion Edwards was booked for a late challenge on Lichaj, the Welshman appearing to have lost his footing as the ball was played forward.

As the game reached the half-hour mark the Blues began to get on top and dominate possession, with sub Dozzell and Alan Judge increasingly influential, however, as has become so familiar in recent months, without being able to create a clear-cut opportunity.

On 34 Judge’s cross from the right eventually fell to Edwards but his curled effort was too high, the Irishman having switched to the right and the Welshman to the left.

Town continued to press and three minutes later, a superb, curling Bree cross from the right reached Edwards at the far post but the winger was unable to get enough on the ball to direct it towards goal.

Soon after, Hull were forced into a change with Beccles-born former Canary Chris Martin taking over from the injured Campbell.

The game briefly fell flat with Hull winning a succession of freekicks around the halfway line before the Blues regained the upper hand and came very close to getting on terms.

After an excellent move down the right involving Judge, Chalobah and Dozzell, Bree sent over a cross which eventually fell to Jackson. The striker worked himself space and shot goalwards but the ball was blocked by Lichaj on the line blocked.

In four minutes of injury time, Jarrod Bowen hit a shot which deflected through to Bialkowski, then a wayward Kenlock pass led to a Hull attack but Nsiala slid in to block Pugh’s shot.

Seconds before the whistle Town had the ball cleared off the line for a second time. Judge whipped over a left-sided corner to the near post, Edwards flicked on towards goal but Pugh was on hand to clear.

The half had been a microcosm of most of the Blues’ recent performances. They had been good on the ball and on top for the most part but without having turned that superiority into goals at one end, while conceding disappointingly at the other.

However, Town could count themselves unlucky to be behind at the break on this occasion with Jackson and Edwards both having had the ball cleared off the line.

The Blues began the second half as the had ended the first on the front foot but five minutes after the restart the Tigers doubled their lead with Grosicki again the man on target.

Bowen brought the ball forward from very deep, beating Skuse just over the halfway line when it looked like Hull’s 21-goal top scorer had been dispossessed, before feeding Grosicki, who hit a low shot across Bialkowski and into the net off the inside of the post to claim his seventh of the season.

On 55 Town had a more than decent chance to get back on terms. Edwards picked up a loose Hull pass midway inside the Tigers half and found Judge, but the Irish international curled his shot wide.

The Blues threatened again in the 57th minute, a trademark clever Dozzell pass finding Jackson, who shot over from an angle to the right of goal.

Town continued to press and just after the hour mark Bree shot over from the right of the box. Seconds later, Quaner took over from Jackson, the German lining up on the left with Judge in the middle. On 63 Marshall was booked for time-wasting as the former Norwich man prepared to take a goalkick.

A minute later, Judge broke into the area on the left and sent in a low cross which Jordy de Wijs diverted only just past the near post.

Town had what looked a not too ambitious claim for a penalty in the 70th minute when Chalobah tried to take the ball past Todd Kane in the area and the ball appeared to strike his hand.

The Blues were continuing to take the game to Hull but without ever really convincing that they would grab the goal which would get them back in the game. The Tigers meanwhile were happy enough just to sit on their lead.

On 74 Idris El Mizouni was handed his home debut as a sub for Skuse, while the Tigers swapped the injured Reece Burke for Robbie McKenzie. Six minutes later De Wijs was yellow-carded for a foul.

In the 85th minute Bialkowski, largely a spectator since Hull’s second goal, was out quickly to claim at Bowen’s feet after a Hull break.

Town continued to huff and puff in the final minutes but without ever really looking like they would get the goal which would give them a foothold in the match. On the visitors swapped two-goal Grosicki for Evandro.

Sub El Mizouni hit a well-struck effort from the edge of the box which Marshall claimed comfortably on 88.

In injury time Pugh almost made it 3-0 when he curled a shot on to the post following a Hull break, then at the other end Quaner’s low shot was saved down to his right by Marshall.

Soon after, with the home support still singing loudly and getting behind their team, referee John Brooks’s whistle confirmed the Tigers’ victory and the extension of the Blues’ winless run to 12 matches.

The game was a familiar tale for Town, who had plenty of the ball and passed it around slickly at times but were unable to turn their possession into goals.

At the other end, Hull were given two goals out of nothing to claim their first away win of 2019 and once the Blues were two goals behind the visitors’ victory was never in any real doubt.

The Blues remain 13 points from safety at the bottom of the table with only seven left to play with a visit to 23rd-placed Bolton - who won 2-1 at QPR today to extend their lead over Town to eight points - their next fixture on Saturday.

Town: Bialkowski, Bree, Chambers (c), Nsiala, Kenlock, Skuse (El Mizouni 74), Chalobah, Nolan (Dozzell 18), Edwards, Judge, Jackson (Quaner 61). Unused: Gerken, Knudsen, Downes, Emmanuel.

Hull City: Marshall (c), Lichaj, De Wijs, Burke (McKenzie 74), Pugh, Groskicki (Evandro 87), Irvine, Kane, Batty, Bowen, Campbell (Martin 38). Unused: Long, Stewart, Milinkovic, McKenzie, Ridgewell. Referee: John Brooks (Leicestershire). Att: 15,720 (Hull: 485).

Photo: TWTD

EssexTractor added 18:02 - Mar 30 Today was really the doldrums The good and noisy spirit generated recently went back mainly into quiet mode. No game for last fortnight, yes we all know we are down , but today where on earth was anything to make spectators return again? Just ( blind!) loyalty..??? Maybe an argument for not playing loan players but today 8 of starting line up OurPlayers. And collectively not good enough , and potentially not good enough for next seasons rough and tumble which will meet the( historic) team everyone will want to beat. Whichever division chances have to be created, goal poachers have to be found, and with some strength , some hold up ability...qualities that have been absent during this horrid season. I do want Paul Lambert to succeed but despite his own enthusiasm can he property transfer that into the minds of those he manages....today's 90 minutes casts some doubts.

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ShropshireBluenago09 added 18:05 - Mar 30 It's a vicious circle we are in. Concede, try to play, don't get any luck and heads go down. Lambert wouldn't commit when questioned on next season. The honeymoon period is over and his record is poor.
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Sm00411 added 18:09 - Mar 30 It does start to make me a bit nervous about next season when statistically we dominate teams and yet we don't look like winning. What's going to be different next season? We need to be able to finish the job while we're on top. We're not going to get a transfer war chest and we're really lacking a "winners" mentaillity. Hopefully, the u23s can instil that mentality into the more senior players.

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RobsonWark added 18:20 - Mar 30 You are funny Dolphinblue. We will have a double relegation with that useless captain playing week in week out! I could play better at the back and I was a left midfielder 20 years ago.
2

DebsyAngel added 18:20 - Mar 30 Went to the match despite not feeling at all well. Wanted to go after the last terrific home match. Yet today we were abysmal. Toothless up front and such a boring match. Really wish I had not bothered!!
4

herfie added 18:26 - Mar 30 PL's post-match comments on Radio Suffolk were interesting. Sounded a bit like a valedictory interview - evasive and non-committal about his future, but saying the club was in better shape, with some good youngsters coming through and a fantastic set of supporters etc. Next Scotland manager, perhaps?
7

RobsonWark added 18:27 - Mar 30 Sm00411 and DebsyAngel What do you expect when we sign strikers that have scored like 5 goals in 100 games...
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Tofat4theturnstiles added 18:28 - Mar 30 After attending today and hearing Paul Lambert's post-match interview, I have emailed the ticket office to inform them that I will not be renewing my season ticket. PL only a few weeks committed to ITFC and today he evades the question. ITFC is rotten to the core and somebody needs to be really honest with supporters as to what is going on before anybody hands over any more money!

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RobsonWark added 18:31 - Mar 30 Has anyone ever wondered if Marcus is a secret Norwich City fanatic?
5

ITFCZombie added 18:39 - Mar 30 Wtf something has drastically changed since the international break. Lamberts press conference on BBC radio Suffolk, what was that all about? and the team selection and tactics today. What's happened to Harrison (is he still injured?) we needed 2 strikers up front come the second and should have taken the fight to hull, Dozzell baffles me this again was another opportunity for him to show what his about and all we saw in 60 odd minutes were a few flashes. I'm extremely worried about our great club if we end the season and lambert leaves, we need stability. Perhaps PL isn't happy with what Marcus Evans is planning next season but something has definitely happen in the last couple of weeks for that kind of press conference feeling completely dejected

7

Nobbysnuts added 18:49 - Mar 30 P#ss poor. Please let this end.â˜
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midastouch added 18:53 - Mar 30 If Lambert isn't here next season then please can we get George Burley back in the building or try and tempt Klug to go full time, or wouldn't even mind the return of Jim Magilton. And please Marcus, no consulting David Pleat next time. A couple of people above seem to think PL might have seen enough and might not hang around for Division One. If he fancies Scotland then he's a glutton for punishment or maybe he thinks it would be the lesser of two evils! Given his credentials in getting Norwich up at the first time of asking I wouldn't mind giving him a chance to turn things around next season (even if his record for us has been very poor) but if he's not here come next season please let's get somebody in with a proven track record of getting the best out of youngsters and fully trusting in them. I can't think of anybody better than either Burley or Klug on that score. My wild card would be Gary White who threw his hat in the ring but I don't know what's he up to now and whether he just talked a good game but I was impressed with how positive he sounded when talking about the prospect of working here. Burley also knows about the importance of getting the right balance of youth of experience. Think Tony Mowbray and Kieron Dyer. Anyway all very speculative but I can't help but wonder would we not of been in such a mess this season if we'd of just gone for Burley after Tricky Micky, instead of going for Hurst (they think it's all over, IT IS NOW!) and Snoop Doigy Doig!

5

runaround added 19:04 - Mar 30 I just don't think we did enough in either box today, as usual, many unforced errors defensively & had no cutting edge up front. Even the crowd seemed slightly deflated but still made a great noise at times. Every time there is hope of things improving then reality bites back violently. I fear for next season
1

RobsonWark added 19:13 - Mar 30 Paul Lambert says *“It's unbelievable, incredible, it really is and I can't put my finger on it,” It's soooooooooooooooooooo obvious!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!! CHAMBERS!!!

3

ITFCsince73 added 19:14 - Mar 30 I knew we was down way before Xmas, I knew we wouldn't win another game this season just after Xmas. Today's result no surprise in the slightest. I've also said to play as many young players as possible and only any player who will be with us next season. I don't care what happens as far as results go, in any remaining game of this sorry season. It's all about next season. Onwards and upwards.

2

Dolphinblue added 19:15 - Mar 30 Captain Chambers stands like a Collossuss, a God amongst insects!
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ITFCsince73 added 19:19 - Mar 30 But will add....allowing the great Chambo to sign a 2 year extension is a kick in the balls. And shows me the club have no real intention of progression. Possibly the worst decision made by the club since MM contract extension.
4

Dolphinblue added 19:19 - Mar 30 Shall l compare Skuse to a Summers day Thou football is more Beautiful Rough winds do shake the Darling buds of May And Summers lease hath far to short a date. To hot sometimes the eye of heaven shines But thy beauty shall never fade And thouest shall never live in the shade As long as football lives and eyes can see, your football shall live on And that gives life to thee!

1

ITFCsince73 added 19:25 - Mar 30 Bluearmy81. Because the club has many supporters a like Dolphin blue. The club will lead us to wherever it wants......unfortunately. Maybe when further relegation looms, everyone might sing of the same hymn sheet. But then maybe not?
0

Dolphinblue added 19:27 - Mar 30 Aah itfc1973 Because yr words fork no lightning, you will not go gently into this goodnight
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ITFCsince73 added 19:30 - Mar 30 Dolphinblue. Because your words talk S**t.
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BlueArrow added 19:34 - Mar 30 Anyone know if Marcus Evans is alive and about to make a statement ?
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RobsonWark added 19:46 - Mar 30 He can shout and puff and do fist pumps all day long but the truth is he is not a Championship footballer or even good enough to play for Ipswich Wanderers! What the heck is Marcus Evans and Paul Lambert thinking off signing the useless **** for another 2 years?
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ITFCsince73 added 19:49 - Mar 30 Dolphinblue You need to pick up on L1 goings on. Pompey will go up and Southend down.
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londontractorboy57 added 19:49 - Mar 30 jas0999 doesn't look like Lamberts going to be here next season.
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