City’s defensive struggles continued at Vicarage Road on Saturday afternoon
Barry is the Hull City correspondent, and previously covered Nottingham Forest for the Nottingham Post/Nottinghamshire Live. Barry has reported on Hull City’s League One title success and Championship campaigns
Hull City produced some of their best football under Sergej Jakirovic in the first half at Watford, according to their head coach, only to throw it all away in the second and lose 2-1.
Oli McBurnie’s third goal in as many games had City on their way to a first away success at Vicarage Road since 2012, only to be pegged back twice in the second period.
The Tigers’ continued defensive struggles contributed to their downfall, but few could argue against it being a poor all-round display to contrive to lose a game they had complete control of at the interval and the home fans baying for the blood of their manager.
Here’s what City reporter Barry Cooper made of things in Hertfordshire…
How quickly football changes
Watford were poor in the first half, and no sooner had McBurnie’s effort hit the back of the net than the home fans were chanting ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’ to their boss, Paulo Pezzolano, and booing almost every chance the Tigers had.
In the second half, it was a different kettle of fish, and the home fans were full of beans with the turnaround, but it should never have happened.
Watford were given a free pass in the second half and gleefully took it, but the goals were poor and it’s the one thing that has blighted the early weeks of the season.
Second half shambles
The way City started in the second period, you just sensed something wasn’t right. They were in such control, but we know in football, if you don’t put the game to bed, you’re always at risk in any game against any opposition, and so it proved.We saw at Wrexham in the cup how susceptible this team is to conceding goals, and now, no team in the division have conceded more than their 14.Their midfield bossed the first half, but in the second, there was no control and that contributed to what was a really poor showing in the second period. That simply has to change, because their inability to defend a lead has cost them again and will continue to do so until they stop it.
Killer instinct needed
At 1-0, the Tigers were in control. What is stopping them from becoming a real challenger in this league is their inability to kill teams off, coupled with keeping clean sheets at the other end. That soft underbelly is their undoing. They’re conceding too many goals, and another two here proves that. Until they can keep that clean sheet, these things are going to keep happening because other teams know they’re a soft touch.Players have got to take responsibility for the errors contributing to so many goals going into their net. At the other end, when you’re on top, you’ve got to punish the opposition. McBurnie is doing his share of the work, but when you get yourself into such a commanding position, you have to take advantage, and they just didn’t do that because of that tepid, disjointed and lacklustre second half display.
Millartime is back
After 339 days, Liam Millar was finally named in a Hull City matchday squad, and that was fantastic news, especially given it was his 26th birthday. After damaging his knee in the first half of the 1-1 draw with Burnley on October 23 last year, the Canadian winger was finally named in the squad, and it was great to see him back.
Millar, who sustained significantly more damage in his knee than teammate Mo Belloumi, was on the bench, and though he didn’t get on the pitch in the end, just seeing him back involved was a real positive.
With Joel Ndala now nursing a problem and Belloumi out, the return of Millar is timely. While he can’t be rushed, him being an option off the bench in the final few minutes is a welcome boost for the manager.
Home comforts
Attention now turns to Tuesday night when City host Preston North End at the MKM Stadium in the first of two outings in front of their own supporters this week, and there has to be a response.
Following the visit of North End, the Tigers can then look forward to a huge Yorkshire derby against Sheffield United to round off the latest batch of games before the international break and there will be no shortage of former Blades interest in that contest.
The next two games are real tests for the Tigers to really make the most of their home advantage, and both games are inherently winnable encounters for a side who should have confidence after that display against Southampton, even despite that second half calamity in Hertfordshire.
Here at Hull Live , we are dedicated to bringing you the best Hull City coverage and analysis. Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest City news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe. You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.