Town’s struggles against League One’s better sides continued as Hull City left Portman Road with a comfortable 3-0 victory. Mallik Wilks put the visitors ahead in the second minute, Josh Magennis made it two in first-half injury time and sub Tom Eaves made it three with 13 minutes left with the Blues, who are down to fifth in the table, never looking like they would get anything from the game.

Town boss Paul Lambert made four changes from the team which beat Shrewsbury 2-1 on Saturday with Luke Woolfenden, James Norwood, Keanan Bennetts and Emyr Huws all starting.

Woolfenden came in at the heart of the defence for Toto Nsiala, who dropped to the bench, while Huws was in central midfield with Teddy Bishop (ankle) and Jon Nolan (groin) both having picked up knocks on Saturday.

Alan Judge moved into the midfield three having been on the right of the front three against the Shrews. Brett McGavin continued in place of Andre Dozzell, who was serving the last game of his three-match ban.

Norwood was the lone central striker with Kayden Jackson among the subs, while Bennetts was handed his first league start for the Blues on the right of the front three with Freddie Sears continuing on the left.

Aaron Drinan returned to the bench for the first time since suffering a thigh injury in the opening league game against Wigan, while Oli Hawkins was also back in the 18 having missed out at the weekend due to knee and groin issues.

Hull City included ex-Blues right-back Josh Emmanuel and former Town loanee Callum Elder in their XI.

The Tigers made one change from the team which beat the MK Dons 3-1 on Saturday with Regan Slater coming in for Alfie Jones in central midfield.

After the teams took the knee in support of Black Lives Matter, the visitors took the lead with their first attack of the game in only the second minute.

Emmanuel fed George Honeyman to his left, who in turn played it on to Wilks, who was given time to hit a low shot past Tomas Holy to his left from just inside the area.

The Blues withstood a couple of promising Hull attacks in the immediate aftermath of the early goal before starting to dominate the ball, although without threatening.

On 23 Bennetts tricked his way into the box on the right of the box before hitting a shot which Jacob Greaves diverted out for a corner.

Town were beginning to look more dangerous with McGavin twice finding Ward with excellent passes, however, the Irishman’s crosses came to nothing. In the 25th minute the left-back took a dip at goal from a tight angle but the ball flew across the face.

Two minutes later, Norwood latched on to a ball over the top down the right and hit a shot which failed to trouble Matt Ingram in the Hull goal.

Town were forced into a change in the 32nd minute when Sears picked up what looked to be a hamstring problem. Lankester took over on the right of the front three with Bennetts moving to the left.

The Blues continued to see most of the ball but with Ingram untested. There was a scramble in the Tigers area following a Lankester corner on 38 but with no one able to get a clear sight of goal and eventually Bennetts dallied on the edge of the box and the danger was gone.

Almost immediately Wilks went to ground at the other end in a hopeful attempt to win a penalty before Hakeeb Adelakun’s weak shot was saved by Holy.

Chambers headed a Ward cross from the left to Ingram in the 44th minute and then Norwood was unable to get on a ball from deep from the Irishman at the far post.

The Blues were on top but were still to carve out a clear cut opportunity or significantly test Ingram.

And as the half moved into three minutes of injury time, the Tigers doubled their lead.

Reece Burke crossed from the right and an unmarked Josh Magennis beat Holy from eight yards with the Town players adamant the Northern Irish international was offside, however, the officials were unmoved by their protests.

Moments before the whistle, Chambers claimed a penalty when he was manhandled as a corner came over from the left but a spot-kick would have been a very generous award.

The skipper and his men trooped off after a half in which they had had plenty of the ball but as so often had been unable to turn possession into serious chances and goals.

At the other end, the Tigers had taken their two big opportunities clinically but with big questions over Town’s defending, and in the case of the second whether a linesman’s flag should have been raised.

The Blues had a mountain to climb in the second half if they were to maintain their 100 per cent home league record.

They started the period positively and on 49 Norwood flicked a McGavin cross following a corner towards goal but the ball was blocked by a defender.

The Blues continued to press and to try to find a way through the Hull backline but whatever they attempted they found an amber and black shirt in their way.

Hull should have made it 3-0 in the 62nd minute when Emmanuel, impressing down the right against his old side, crossed and Magennis, again completely unmarked, volleyed over when it looked easier to hit the target.

As Holy prepared to restart, the Tigers swapped Adelakun and Slater for James Scott and Jones.

Wilks had another chance for his side’s third when Bennetts gifted possession to the former Barnsley attacker in the Hull half on the Town right. Wilks broke away beyond Woolfenden, who made a desperate lunge to stop him on the edge of the box, but fortunately for the Blues Holy saved his shot from a tight angle.

Hull switched Magennis for Eaves in the 71st minute with the Tigers comfortably seeing out the second half.

Town had continued to huff and puff but with Ingram still untested. In the 72nd minute, Ward crossed from the left and Bennetts flicked a header wide.

A minute later, Ingram was forced into a save when Norwood was sent away down the left. The striker was on his own so hit a shot from a tight angle which the keeper turned behind.

Town replaced Norwood and Bennetts with Hawkins and Jackson as they prepared to take the resultant corner, which like so many of their set pieces came to nothing.

Any lingering hopes the Blues had of a shock turnaround were extinguished in the 77th minute when Eaves was sent away on goal after a wayward Lankester pass with Mark McGuinness playing him onside. The striker beat his former Gillingham team-mate Holy with confidence to make it 3-0.

Town continued to look for a goal in the remaining minutes but without ever going close and the referee’s whistle confirmed the visitors’ victory and an end to Town’s home league unbeaten run.

A Hull win never really looked in doubt from the moment they took the lead in the second minute. Town had plenty of the ball but never had the guile to find a way through the Tigers, who could well have won more convincingly with Magennis missing a chance as good as the three they scored.

If Hull as leaders are the benchmark for a team aspiring to automatic promotion, on this evidence the Blues, who are still without a win this season against anyone in League One’s top eight, look a long way short of that standard.

Had their been a crowd present, they would undoubtedly made their thoughts known at half-time and after the final whistle.

Town will have another go at beating one of the division’s top sides on Saturday when Charlton, who are down to sixth after a 4-2 defeat at Burton this evening, are in Suffolk.

Town: Holy, Chambers (c), Woolfenden, Nsiala, Ward, McGavin, Huws, Judge, Bennetts (Jackson 74), Sears (Lankester 32), Norwood (Hawkins 74). Unused: Cornell, Nsiala, Kenlock, Drinan.

Hull City: Ingram, Elder, Burke, Smallwood (c), Wilks (Coyle 83), Honeyman (Samuelsen 82), Emmanuel, Adelakun (Scott 63), Slater (Jones 63), Greaves, Magennis (Eaves 71). Unused: Long, Batty. Referee: Lee Swabey (Devon).

Photo: Matchday Images

BeattiesBackPocket added 00:09 - Nov 25 Robsonwalk I agree but was trying to give the happy clappers a break
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RobsonWark added 00:21 - Nov 25 BeattiesBackPocket - To be fair Evans does pump a lot of money into the club. We are not a Premiership team. We don't get much TV money or much in sponsorship deals. Paying crap players who don't give a damn about the shirt (only care about their wages) costs a lot of money. Covid-19 on top of that. If it wasn't for Marcus Evans we would probably be another Bury Town FC ie gone bust! Yes he has made some bad managerial appointments but he has probably had some bad advice. I'm sure he doesn't want to lose money and would rather be in the Premiership raking in the gold.

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BeattiesBackPocket added 00:28 - Nov 25 He's pumping more in now because we're in league one. He's the 6th richest owner outside the premier league if you don't know about football don't buy a football club simple we WERE better off before he came in and if you believe he pumps in that every season I'm sorry I don't see it I don't see how we could have made an extra 120 million debt on top of what he supposedly puts in weve recouped 50 million in player sales without that we've lost 90 million in 13 season having the 5th lowest wage budget in the championship last two seasons as well? As I say what team and debt would you rather have the one before he came or now? His five point plan doesn't work and he recycles it every year. It's not just about his poor managerial decisions no one can work with the teams we've had past few season it's poor you pay peanuts in wages and what do you get. He's a successful businessman no doubt but sucks as an owner he's had at least two offers for the club if he was really pumping as much money as he says every single season with NO affinity for the club being a chelsea fan why do it? Why not sell unless there is something he is gaining

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BeattiesBackPocket added 00:31 - Nov 25 Also robsonwalk it's all I ever hear is we could be a bury well with investment we could be a wolves and Bournemouth and Norwich dare I say it look how well run Norwich is I'd settle for being a yo-yo club to where we are so who's to blame if not the owner the demise started with him?
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RobsonWark added 01:09 - Nov 25 Norwood was the only Town player looking for the ball. He was making runs into space whereas all the other Town players were like I'm here if you want to pass it to me but I'm not going to run for the ball so you better pass it to my feet. They don't care about the club or winning!!! Get the U18's in please.
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ThaiBlue added 05:38 - Nov 25 Yes good call gandgi64 paul cook get him in good manager to get this shower back into shape asap.
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therein61 added 06:57 - Nov 25 Total shambles selection and tactics wise, it's turning into last season at a fast rate.
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tractorboybig added 07:26 - Nov 25 Has the reality sunk in????? We are a crap third tier club now and there is no magic wand. O and I notice the norwich piss takers have dried up.
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Nobbysnuts added 07:43 - Nov 25 It was so bad even the cardboard cut outs were booing.....😂😂😂
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VanDusen added 08:18 - Nov 25 All very well the anger here - and I was as disappointed with the predictable result and frustrated by the one-dimensional reaction of once again sticking with the same formation regardless. But can anyone tell me what reason Evans would have to shell out several million pounds sacking Lambert when he is effectively at present the only person generating income for the club anyway? A few people on here need to remember that indignation aside, very little cash is going in from us bar the season ticket revenue and the fractional amounts they get for the streaming compared to matchday revenue, so he is hardly likely to be worried about losing fans at present? Reality is though: - The recent performances have been very (Very!) frustrating, but we are well in the mix up there and far from doomed... yet. I mean until last night we'd actually won every home game, regardless of how it was done. - The full financial impact of the pandemic is yet to even properly work its way through. Many clubs are going to go to the wall and expectations aside, we have to be glad if we still have a club in the next year or two. In that sense we are already far better off than many thanks to Evans underwriting millions to keep things afloat, and may even end up one of the 'better off' clubs in a season or two.

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BettyBlue added 09:01 - Nov 25 Paul Cook led Wigan to the League One title and on an impressive FA Cup run that claimed three shocks against top flight opponents West Ham United, Bournemouth and Manchester City. What's not to like, Paul.
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BettyBlue added 09:03 - Nov 25 Wouldn't want to be in a sinking dinghy with Van Dopey
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BettyBlue added 09:05 - Nov 25 Its not all doom and gloom. We have next season, a five point plan and an experienced manager...
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1RWR added 09:09 - Nov 25 If Lambet/Evans aren't careful, those loyal season ticket holders will be wondering what on earth their hard earned money could be used instead of watching this $h*te! I'm getting bloody close I can tell you.
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ArnieM added 09:15 - Nov 25 The panic will set in ( thus action) with Evans when it's time for ST renewals. This time not only will the fan base be yet again disenchanted but they will have got used to not going down to PR.
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BangaloreBlues added 09:39 - Nov 25 I think it's safe to say the Charlton result will give us an idea of where we are going this season.
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Michael101 added 09:43 - Nov 25 Never mind folks,it will soon be the January (sales)transfer window Ebenezer evans can sell a few players (for half there value),can't wait deep joy😈😢😡
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brittaniaman added 10:27 - Nov 25 I am a Season ticket Holder YET I was still charged £10 to watch that embarrassing load of C..... I have been fighting since last Sunday to get Reimbursed from EFL ifollow with no luck so far !!!!!! I am reluctant to apply for the Charlton match in case it happens again ???? because it is out of ITFC HANDS
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Nobbysnuts added 10:35 - Nov 25 I lost all respect for lambert when he openly admitted in an interview earlier in the year that he didn't care if he got sacked....pig ignorant ars#hole....
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 10:50 - Nov 25 The club has been hollowed out, asset stripped and commoditised. PL is a symptom of this commercialisation, ME has no natural affinity to the Club so presumably all decisions are balance sheet related in the wider context of ME PLC. I understand professional football is by definition money-bound but it used to be, and should be still, much more than that, it is supporters, pride, community, meeting your mates, having something to get excited about, feeling connected. The Cobbolds cared, they were fans, part of the community. We are in danger of loosing that, being driven away, we are all on here because we love Town, we hate to see something we love being abused and sometimes it hurts less to stop caring, though I can't.

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Town_Jewells added 11:11 - Nov 25 It has been well documented that the Covid situation has had a detrimental effect on people's mental health. I feel that mine has been improved by not having to attend Portman Road to watch the dross that Lambert dishes out.
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Derbyshire_Blue added 11:24 - Nov 25 As soon as the first goal went in I knew the writing was on the wall. The system is too predictable, and unless Lambert comes up with a plan B theres no chance of promotion this season. Would love to see someone in charge who really understands the club when Lambert inevitably leaves. Kieran Dyer under the guidance of Burley anyone?
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Blue_Meanie added 12:36 - Nov 25 Evans has to act NOW; before Christmas. Remove Lambert from the club and offer Eddie Howe whatever it takes to get him. If he sticks with Lambert (likely, as he appears to have little interest in the club) we will stay in L1 for another season with a salary cap in place next year. We will not even be able to attract the class acts we've recruited in the last few seasons. Just think less quality than Toto, Huws, Judge, Nolan, the list goes on and on. Just thing worst than them, if possible.

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Carberry added 13:12 - Nov 25 Don't think it's worth mentioning Eddie Howe because he will see himself as a Premier League manager and would certainly not contemplate dropping to League 1 with a totally dysfunctional club and no money to spend. The barrel has got smaller and there's not much at the bottom of it.
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VanDusen added 13:25 - Nov 25 Eddie Howe has already allegedly turned down Derby and they've got a middle east billionaire coming in. I'm sure it must be because he's holding out for Town and working on our budget... Get real is all I'm saying in my earlier post. There is absolutely zero reason at present that Evans will sack the manager no matter how many people don't want to hear that on here. And truth is there's even less leverage for whinging on here to change that than there was when money was changing hands...

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