Hull City
McGregor, Odubajo,
Maguire, Davies Robertson (Taylor - 81') Snodgrass Livermore (Huddlestone
- 61'), Hayden, Clucas, Diamé, Hernández (Aluko - 70')
Unused substitutes: Meyler, Jakupovic, Akpom,
Elmohamady
Charlton Athletic
Henderson, Solly,
Johnson, Williams (Fox - 59 ),Lennon, Cousins, Poyet (Vaz Te - 81'), Jackson,
Gudmundsson, Vetokele (Umerah - 66'),
Harriott
Unused substitutes:Vaz Te, Sarr, Makienok, Charles-Cook, Pope
Not the greatest start to the day. I’m due in Belgium on business next week and none of my
suits fit me. Well at least there was
the football to look forward to. On
paper a simple three points for City, Charlton were going through a rough patch
conceding five against Huddersfield midweek and Coral priced City at 1/3. This being Hull City though, nothing should
be taken for granted. Earlier in the
season they had suffered defeat at the Valley and as Charlton had just sacked
another of their managers there was the risk of ‘new manager bounce’ which we
have a history of succumbing to.
In an attempt to tackle the ever expanding girth I would
walk to the KC (as I usually do). Half
way seemed a good point to stop for a pint or two, well it is Saturday. I stopped at the Whalebone which is one of
the two remaining pubs down Wincolmlee on the industrial part of the banks of
the River Hull. At one time there had
been many more pubs in the area and there are framed photographs on the walls
of the Whalebone of some those long gone pubs along with football and rugby memorabilia. I had been in here many years ago when it was
a Tetley house but it was now a free house with seven hand-pumps severing real
ale as well as two ciders or perries. It
was Hull & East Yorkshire Branch of CAMRA Hull pub of 2014 and is a
friendly, tidy place with a log fire adding to the cosy feel on a cold winter’s
day. I had a very nice pint of the
topically named Phoenix Flash Flood and followed with Timothy Taylor
Landlord. If real ale is your thing it
is well worth a visit.
Charlton took to the pitch wearing a rather nice white shirt
with a red sash, reminiscent of the Peru national side of 1978 when they pissed
on Ally Macleod’s porridge, albeit with natty red shorts and socks. Sadly this Charlton side are no Peru of 1978
vintage; they could barely manage a Paddington Bear hard stare between
them. I secretly like kits with a sash,
they seem bold if a bit ‘Fancy Dan’. If
you wear one you really should play expansive football with a certain swagger
not like a bunch of junior majorettes at a country fair.
The tone of the match was set as early as the 9th minute
when Abel Hernández stole the ball, pouncing like a Jack Russell terrier on a
rat, from some sloppy defending just in the Charlton half and he was away. Abel has lots of pace and I thought he had
taken it too far, going to the left he casually slotted home side footed. Sadly for Charlton the day wouldn’t get any
better. Hernández’s second on 16 minutes
curled into the top corner from the edge of the box. Then on 33 minutes Robert Snodgrass got in on
the act curling one in from the right hand corner of the box, his second for
the club and first from open play. This
was effectively game over, but there was more to come. On 39 minutes Hernández was presented a good
chance in the box and duly completed his first hat-trick in league football.
Half time came as a blessed relief for Charlton and gave the
spectators a chance to warm up. Despite
a polo shirt, hoodie, coat, City scarf and Yorkshire baseball hat the cold had
leeched into the bones. Time for a life
giving half time dram!
Glen Moray is one of the cheaper bottles of malt to be found
on the supermarket shelves, but don’t let that put you off. It is mellowed in chardonnay casks as part
of its maturation period leaving a smooth slightly sweat finish. Sometimes complexity is not what you are
looking for and this is a good beginner’s whisky or as Rab C Nesbitt would put
it a fine breakfast whisky. It hit the
spot for me!
The teams came out for the second half, Hull City first,
Charlton a good few seconds later minus their goalkeeper, who appeared much
later to ironic cheers. It was
understandable that he wanted to dwell it was not a great afternoon for him.
The second half started much the way the first ended. On 58 minutes Mo Diamé scored with a cracker
from the edge of the box after some scruffy approach play. Both sides then made substitutions and the
game started to fizzle out but there was one further goal in the 80th minute
when Isaac Hayden’s strong short was deflected in.
So what can be concluded from the match? Hull City may be over their December form
blip; this remains to be seen. Charlton
were abject, I guess 0-5 and 0-6 defeats in a week will affect you. The shame was that not so many years ago
Charlton were a decent, likeable, well run club and no true football fan wants
to see them in their current state. The
owners need to instil some order and consistency before it gets too late.
