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Hull City 0-1 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Tuesday, 23rd Feb 2021 21:10

Town finally recorded a victory over one of League One’s higher flyers as James Norwood’s fourth goal of the season saw the Blues a 1-0 victory over Hull City at the KCOM Stadium. Norwood slammed home Myles Kenlock's superb cross-field pass in the 15th minute.

Boss Paul Lambert named an unchanged side, sticking with the same XI that drew 0-0 with Oxford at Portman Road on Saturday with Troy Parrott again playing off James Norwood up front.

Five-goal joint-top scorer Gwion Edwards returned to the 18 following his knock with Jack Lankester dropping out having played for the U23s this afternoon.

Hull made three changes from the team which drew 3-3 at Doncaster on Saturday with former Blues right-back Josh Emmanuel, Dan Crowley and Gavin Whyte coming into the line-up.

Skipper George Honeyman and Greg Docherty were in the XI despite suffering knocks at the Keepmoat Stadium, while ex-Blues loanee Callum Elder also started.

After both teams had taken a knee, with the exception of Toto Nsiala who remained standing as he did on Saturday, the game got under way with the wind blowing strongly.

Neither side, with Town wearing their light blue away strip, was able to carve out a chance in the early stages but with the game being almost entirely played in the Tigers half. On 12 Norwood battled himself some space on the edge of the box before hitting a shot which was blocked.

And in the 15th minute the Blues went in front. Kenlock played a superb ball from only a matter of yards inside the Tigers half on the left which, with the assistance of the wind, reached Norwood on the right of the box, from where the striker smashed a powerful first-time shot past Hull keeper Matt Ingram.

The Tigers continued to struggle to get going and in the 25th minute the Blues threatened again. Andre Dozzell fed in Parrott on the right of the box but the on-loan Tottenham man took too long over his low cross and it was blocked.

The Tigers finally showed some attacking threat as the half-hour mark approached, an Emmanuel cross was blocked and Dan Crowley’s shot deflected behind off Dozzell.

And there was a big scare for the Blues from the corner. Dozzell looked to have an easy clearance but inadvertently scuffed it to Crowley, who teed-up Keane Lewis-Potter but fortunately for Town the forward shot wide when it looked easier to score.

On 36 Hull had a free-kick in a dangerous position midway inside the Town half, following a foul by Dozzell on Honeyman, but the home skipper gifted the ball to Parrott a matter of feet away from him, the Irishman bringing it forward towards the Hull box but overhit his through pass to Bennetts.


The Blues continued to look the more likely scorer of the game’s second goal, Bennetts tricking his way into the area on the right before his cut-back was stopped by a Hull boot. From the position he’d got himself in a shot may have been a better option. In the 41st minute Nsiala was booked for a foul on Mallik Wilks.

Wilks, Hull’s top scorer with 17, tried to battle his way through several Town tackles moments before the whistle, claiming a penalty when he eventually fell, but referee Tom Nield wasn’t interested.

Town were well worth their lead at the break having had the better of the half and having had opportunities to create more openings in addition to Norwood’s well-taken goal from Kenlock’s excellent pass.

Hull had been poor but still might have gone in level had Lewis-Potter taken the opportunity which had been gifted to them from the corner.

Following their disappointing first-half display, the Tigers made a double change, swapping Crowley and Whyte for Josh Magennis and Alfie Jones.

Having reshuffled, the Tigers were first to threaten in the second half, Lewis-Potter hitting a low shot which may well have beaten Tomas Holy had it not struck James Wilson and deflected wide first.

But the home side were unable to maintain any pressure on the Town goal with the Blues soon regaining control.

Wilks was yellow-carded for a nothing foul on Kenlock on 56, then Bennetts joined him in the book three minutes later for slamming the ball into the ground having been harshly penalised.

As the match passed the hour mark, Kenlock tried to repeat his assist for Norwood’s first half goal, but this time the pass against the wind fell a little short and Ingram was able to come off his line to claim ahead of the Town striker.

Norwood, who had given the home defence major headaches all evening, had a big chance to double the Blues’ lead in the 64th minute when Jones lost out to Bennetts not far inside the Tigers half. The winger played Norwood in on goal, the former Tranmere man holding off a defender before shooting the wrong side of Ingram’s left post.

Three minutes later, Norwood tried his luck from just outside the area to the left but the ball flew wide and into the stand. On 69 Town swapped Alan Judge for Edwards.

Wilks scraped a rare Hull effort wide in the 71st minute with the Blues not looking particularly troubled by the Tigers, who had been head and shoulders above them in the fixture at Portman Road in November.

In the 76th minute, the ball was played down the left into the area for Norwood, who stumbled as he broke towards goal but held up to allow team-mates to join him. Eventually, he tried to find Bishop and the ball was deflected into the path of Parrott by a defender, however, the Irish international’s shot was blocked by Jacob Greaves. Moments later, Kenlock was booked for time-wasting.

Hull felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the 81st minute when Edwards appeared to bundle over Lewis-Potter as they battled for an overhit cross. The home side looked to have a good case.

A minute later, Aaron Drinan took over from Norwood, who could be very pleased with his shift, even if he will feel he should have scored at least one more goal.

As the match moved into its penultimate minute, Elder was booked for a foul on Parrott as the striker broke towards the area, the card looked a little harsh. As the Blues prepared to take the free-kick, Josh Harrop replaced Parrott, who like Norwood had caused the Hull defence more than a few problems.

Deep in injury time, Harrop spotted Bennetts making a run down the right into the area but the wideman blazed over. Soon after, referee Nield’s whistle confirmed a deserved three points for the Blues.

Probably Town’s best result and away performance of the season, particularly given the lesson they were taught by the Tigers in the fixture at Portman Road earlier in the season when the East Yorkshire side ran out 3-0 victors.

The Blues should have won more convincingly with Norwood having spurned an excellent second-half opportunity in addition to the good positions Bennetts and Parrott had got into before the break.

Hull passed up the gift handed to them by Dozzell in the first half and failed to trouble Holy throughout the 90 minutes, although they will believe they should have been awarded a second half penalty.

The win is the Blues' first against a side currently in the top six having lost all seven of their previous games against those teams, although they did beat Accrington when Stanley were in sixth earlier in the season.

It's also Town's first win in 15 against the Tigers and their first at the KCOM Stadium since their 5-2 victory in March 2007.

Four points from two tough games against form side Oxford and third-placed Hull would appear likely to have given manager Lambert, who it’s understood will hold his meeting with owner Marcus Evans on Thursday, a stay of execution, although with the Blues having won only twice in their last eight, there’s still much to do before a Town renaissance can be declared.

The Blues, who are up to 10th, five points off the play-offs, have another tough game on Saturday when Doncaster Rovers, who beat the Blues 4-1 away earlier in the campaign, are at Portman Road.

Hull City: Ingram, Elder, Burke, Wilks, Honeyman (c), Emmanuel, Lewis-Potter, Crowley (Jones 46), Whyte (Magennis 46), Greaves, Docherty. Unused: Long, Coyle, Scott, Flores, Slater.

Ipswich: Holy, Chambers (c), Nsiala, Wilson, Kenlock, Dozzell, Bishop, Bennetts, Judge (Edwards 69), Parrott (Harrop 90), Norwood (Drinan 82). Unused: Cornell, Ward, Sears, Matheson. Referee: Tom Nield (West Yorkshire).


Photo: Action Images



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stormypetrel added 21:23 - Feb 23
BLUE ACTION!!!....give ‘em a spark!.....all of a sudden they dig deep!....long may it continue!...
0

gosblue added 21:25 - Feb 23
First time in a king time that I have felt any emotion during a Town game. Mostly nerves, but also pride and excitement. Like the Oxford game, it should have been a comfortable win. There is room for improvement, especially in the final third but well done lads. Enjoy your pizzas and the journey home.
7

tetchris added 21:25 - Feb 23
Crap that means Lambert is probably staying now
1

DifferentGravy added 21:26 - Feb 23
Fat Boy Slim......Read carefully, i never questioned the players desire. We are currently in 10th. One win and two good performances do not change the ability of the manager for me.

We were dogged today. Hull(as i stated before and during the game) are not anything special......nor are any team in this league.....yet we have struggled. 5 wins in 31 against top 10.....

Lambert has come out with every excuse under the sun....or are you so forgetful. It was a good win but down to Wilson organizing the back four and Norwood(whom Lambert dropped on several occasions the last two seasons)....Lamberts tactics of 4-5-1 have nothing to do this and have failed to pay dividends

I will always support the team but not the imbecile who has pushed us into last chance saloon when we should really be right up there
7

planetblue_2011 added 21:26 - Feb 23
Well done boys great win!! Well deserved just need to keep it up.
And we have beat a top 6 team😆😆
2

Cloddyseedbed added 21:27 - Feb 23
Excellent performance all over the pitch. It's as if news has come out of a takeover on the cards and they now want to be part of it! Something has changed, could be the end of tippy tappy football in front of our goal keeper and more front foot football and attacking intent. An on form fit Norwood in the right frame of mood makes all the difference. Only weak link for me was Bennetts who always makes the wrong decisions. I still feel Lambert is not the man to take us out of this league at the right end.
6

Global_Blue added 21:29 - Feb 23
DifferentGravy - apologies for the down arrow, that was a fat finger slip.
0

budgieplucker added 21:30 - Feb 23
The first 30 minutes we were outstanding.

Difficult to expect to maintain that level of performance for 90 minutes and always concerned we would run out of steam and let Hull back into the game.

In fairness everyone put in an excellent shift but Parrot and Keenan Bennett's yet again failed to take their chances as they did on Saturday, had we gone 2 or 3 up we would have deserved it but our appalling ability to take our chances will be the nail in our coffin this season, although It was a great performance there is no way I can see us maintaining a challenge and getting through a play off competition unless our ability to convert dramatically improves.

Not necessarily All Lamberts fault but the quality of our striking capability is the weakness that will prevent this team from finishing the season well. I am not sure changing the management will help that until we have a new recruitment window and ambition to fix this issue. A 6ft 5 cart horse will not improve the situation albeit we could do with more power and pace up front.

Special praise for Kenlock who yet again continues to do well. Willo gives confidence to the defence and all credit to Toto who had another powerful display and extremely unlucky to get booked for a challenge where the Hull player left the ball behind. Bish in a less creative role did an excellent job when not in possession, Andre who I am a big fan of does worry me he is untidy in the challenge and gives uneccessary free kicks away in dangerous positions. I might be include to pair Bish with Downes going forward in the two in front of the back four. 4-2-3-1 can work with a player like Parrot who can hit the front quickly to support Norwood almost morphing the formation into a 4-4-2.
4

Linkboy13 added 21:31 - Feb 23
Said on here last weekend Norwood when fit is our most dangerous striker and i got negative replies. The problem is he needs three chances to score one otherwise he would probably be playing in the championship. Pleased for young Kenlock who is doing his best to prove me wrong which i dont mind unlike some on here.
9

aas1010 added 21:33 - Feb 23
Come on itfc
2

algarvefan added 21:39 - Feb 23
The thing that impressed me tonight was the determination and fight by the whole team, we could and should have won by more, it was an impressive away performance against a top 6 side, who to be fair looked below par but we didn't give them time to settle at all. Wilson & Nsiala were immense as was Kenlock. Norwood ran his heart out and Parrott looked much better. I'm less convinced by Bennetts, would love to see Dobra in his place.

I don't want to play club politics tonight I just want to enjoy a hard won and deserved victory. Well done to the entire team, same again Saturday please.
12

blueboy1981 added 21:42 - Feb 23
Well Done All - a really good three points that, much needed, and one Swallow will never make a summer for sure.
But, let's as always enjoy this Win, and good performance.
Keep it going Lambert, we'll all be pleased if you do - if not simply time to go.
After all - this is the 3rd Division ... !! - let's not forget that.
5

happybeingblue added 21:42 - Feb 23
turn up for the books its a good feeling to get a win
7

VanDusen added 21:44 - Feb 23
Excellent great smashing super stuff. Beyond the obvs plaudits for Norwood, Kenlock, a word for Judge who was all over the pitch like a terrier winning balls. How on earth he can be played anywhere else ever again will be a mystery if Lambert even dares.
3

slimjim added 21:47 - Feb 23
Won't be many posts tonight...
0

Len_Brennan added 21:49 - Feb 23
A good deserved win, away to a side that could have gone top tonight. Hopefully that's smashed through an invisible barrier & sets us up for more confident performances ahead.
The other sides ahead of us are nothing to be afraid of, if we go out with a positive, attack minded approach.
5

moggasnotebook added 21:49 - Feb 23
Didn't realise until I read the TWTD report that the wind had such a hand in our goal - well done WIND.

0

itfc_4ever added 21:50 - Feb 23
Heard there was a big meeting as a take over is being finalised, new manager coming in players need to start impressing or will be gone in summer
1

Michael101 added 21:51 - Feb 23
Keep the same team,play 2up top and we win,shame it took over 20 games to work it out.
3

moggasnotebook added 21:53 - Feb 23
Northstandveteran ?
1

Bert added 21:53 - Feb 23
It matters not one jot that Hull were not at their best. Town made them look pretty average. Whatever is happening off the field with Lambert's inconsistent ways and the owner's silence, we all know that play offs are obtainable. Play attacking football, feed Norwood, stop the fiddling around at the back and we are back in business. I will always want my team to win and I will never support any other club but there has to be a new culture within the club delivered by leadership from the top. We cannot stutter from one crisis to another but tonight proved that the players have it in them.
5

pazzy added 21:54 - Feb 23
same team sat please WELL DONE TOWN
3

bobble added 21:55 - Feb 23
groovy...
2

brendenward35 added 21:55 - Feb 23
Wilson back in the team and no goal conseeded excellent team effort great to watch everyone worked their socks off straight from the kick off. Best game I've watched for ages well done to everyone that includes PL
5

johnwarksshorts added 22:02 - Feb 23
I'm so happy. That's our 14year jinx finally laid to rest.
1


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