City’s sorry first half display was ruthlessly punished by in-form Boro losing 4-1
Hull City were brought back down to earth with a heavy bang at the MKM Stadium on Friday night, as Middlesbrough put them to the sword with four first-half goals.
Boro took advantage of some horrific defending to lead 4-0 at the break, and though City regrouped in the second half and scored through Joe Gelhardt’s penalty, this was a chastening evening.
The Tigers have now shipped 34 goals in their 19 games this term, and Boro took advantage of their inability to do the basics and cut out those errors that have blighted their campaign so far.
Here. City reporter Barry Cooper looks back on a night to forget….
Had it been coming?
In fairness, City have ridden their luck at times this season. There have been games where they’ve been battered in periods and escaped. Norwich and Stoke in the first half spring to mind as two examples.
Boro, though, showed no mercy and with their four first-half goals, took City to the cleaners and royally embarrassed them in front of the television cameras.
Ultimately, if you defend as City do and offer up the chances they do, then you’re going to get your comeuppance at some point, and that’s what happened.
You simply cannot defend like they do, week after week, and expect to avoid a battering at some point. This has to be a turning point because it can’t carry on.
Where’s the midfield?
Jakirovic has a problem in the engine room. Last Saturday, it was Darko Gyabi in there with Slater, and he was dragged off at half-time. Here, Amir Hadziahmetovic was pulled at the break after a dismal display.
City often lack control in the middle of the park and against Boro, Hayden Hackey bossed it. Jakirovic’s men couldn’t get near them, and the game was lost there.
The Croatian must find a solution to beef up the midfield and give City a platform to start controlling games and not giving up so much space.
Squad depth is improving, almost
While all the attention will be on the performance and result, having Liam Millar and Oli McBurnie back on the bench was a massive boost.
City are edging closer to being able to name probably their strongest side, though the loss of Lundstram will delay that for a period now.
Millar got on the pitch and had a useful 25 minutes or so, and though McBurnie didn’t, you would expect him to get a good half-hour or so on Wednesday night.
Another blow
Just as he came back to have an impact at Stoke City last weekend, John Lundstram has now picked up a knee injury that we expect to keep him out for a couple of weeks.
Back came Oli McBurnie and Liam Millar, but then they lost Lundstram. Given how poor the midfield was in the first half at Stoke and against Boro, it’s a major problem, and his absence is a major worry.
Response required
That’s back-to-back home defeats now for City, and they cannot afford to lose a third when Wrexham come on Wednesday night. The Tigers simply have to get back to winning ways and deliver a performance.
Their first half no-show against Boro was embarrassing and will have angered the manager, who will be determined to see a response from his players.
City simply have to produce something here, because after successive defeats, and really poor ones at that, they cannot afford another heap of dross in front of their own fans.
A special milestone
Before the game, there was a lovely moment when owner Acun Ilicali presented Lewie Coyle and Regan Slater with commemorative plaques to acknowledge their landmark achievement of reaching 200 games for the club.
Slater notched up the accolade at QPR, and Coyle followed him a few days later when the Tigers played Ipswich Town at the MKM Stadium.
Both players deserve immense credit for reaching such a milestone, and they remain key figures under Sergej Jakirovic now and will continue to be in the future.
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