West Bromwich Albion 0-3 Hull City
By Jemma Tappenden
November 7 2008
After a crushing 4-0 defeat on the road to Manchester United, a home fixture against fellow newly promoted side Hull City should have been a welcome bit of respite. But the play off victors have made a flying start to their Premiership campaign, and after notching up victories against Arsenal and Spurs, the visitors were unlikely to be too hesitant about their trip to the Midlands.
Ishmael Miller returned to partner Roman Bednar in attack as Mowbray adopted a rare 4-4-2 formation. Albion impressed from the off, but did not make the most of their early chances. In the opening minutes Paul Robinson played a superb ball beyond McShane to Jonathan Greening, who paced the wing to cross to an unmarked Bednar. Fortunately for Hull the misplaced cross landed straight into the outstretched arms of Myhill in goal.
Geovanni had already got himself a reputation for spectacular goals before his trip to the Hawthorns, and in the third minute he tried his luck from distance, but his only found target was Scott Carson. Miller tried his luck for the Baggies next in the 8th minute, but likewise he could only find the keeper.
Hull suffered an injury blow when Dawson had to be replaced by Rickets at left back in the early stages of the game, and just moment’s later Albion nearly exploited the newly formed defence when Valero placed a ferocious 25 yard effort at Myhill, who just about managed to palm the ball away to safety. Olsson should have scored from he rebound, but his effort bounced back off the bar – perhaps an early indicator that it was not to be Albion’s day.
After some good dominance from Albion Hull began to show signs of a fight back in the 18th minute when King fired wide after a neat lay off from Marney. Two minutes later Geovanni wasted a chance as his half effort fell neatly to Carson after he failed to get any power.
Dink very nearly played a clanger midway through the half when he gifted Hull possession just outside the area. Marney, in space, created himself a shooting opportunity which wrong footed Carson, and the Baggies goalie was glad to see the effort deflect out of play off Olsson, who had done well to track back. From the ensuing corner Zuiverloon knocked he ball into the path of Ashbee, and was relieved to see the ball bounce harmlessly out of play.
Although the game was end to end action, the next real chance did not appear until the 37th minute, when Ishmael Miller left Zayatte for dead before unleashing a spectacular 12 yard effort which Myhill did well to turn around the post. Albion played for three minutes with just ten men as Miller left the pitch to receive treatment on an open head wound he received after Ricketts had his boot too high – but he returned before the break sporting a white head bandage.
The last chance of the half fell to Bednar who looped the ball just over from close range. It was levelling pegging at the break, but it would turn out to be missed chances rued for Mowbray’s men.
Half Time: West Bromwich Albion 0-0 Hull City
The second half started as frantically as the first had ended, with early chances falling to the Baggies. But when Hull broke from an early Albion advance it took an excellent reflex stop from Carson to deny Geovanni. But relief was soon turned into despair as an unmarked Zayatte was allowed to smash home Hull’s opener from the ensuing corner.
Undeterred by the set back Albion continued to press, but the best they could manage was a Valero shot which rippled the side netting as it went wide before Hull were on the break again. Another reflex save from Carson to deny King from 25 yards kept the damage limitation down temporarily.
Myhill was more than equal to Morrison’s 20 yard screamer as the Baggies searched for a way back into the game, but it was another chance missed as Hull netted twice in four minutes to make the damage three goals to none.
Geovanni grabbed the second in the 62nd minute when he headed home after neat interchange play between him and King, and in the 66th minute King got the better of Donk to slip in a shot past Carson for the third in an attack which had started with a superb Myhill save from Koren.
The game was dead and buried for Albion, and it showed. Even a triple substitution in the 73rd minute failed to breathe any life into Mowbray’s men, and last years Champions fell victim to last years play off winners on home soil in the Premiership. Hull made it 4 wins in 4.
Full time: West Bromwich Albion 0-3 Hull City
Zayatte (47)
Geovanni (62)
King (66)
Attendance: 26,232