Hull City 6 – 1 Tranmere Rovers Ashbee 34 Dadi 55 Elliott 54, 68, 75 pen Barmby 56 Allsopp 88 Attendance: 20064 I’m beginning to get sick of doing these away Match Reports already! Following on from my depressing Port Vale match report this match is another that was certainly not pretty. This time however the performance was better and the result was (mostly) down to the fact that after 40 minutes of what had been a pretty good game till then, Tranmere found themselves a goal down and without a recognised goalkeeper in the squad. Tranmere made two changes to the team that won 2-0 at home to Bournemouth last Friday with Harrison replacing the injured McAteer and Goodison replacing the suspended Ryan Taylor at right-back. The game had started brightly with Hull putting on the early pressure and having a couple of early chances including Barmby firing over from a good position inside the area after Achterberg had saved well from Stuart Elliott. On 13 minutes Tranmere began to find their feet in the match when Hume crossed and Gary Jones headed wide. From this point it appeared we were in for a good game as expected with two of the divisions’ top teams in action. Indeed you would almost go so far as to say that Tranmere became slightly the better side as the game lived up to expectations. The game, however, began its turn on 20 minutes as Delroy Facey got free down the Hull left and cut into the area where he collided with the out-coming Achterberg who immediately raised his arm in the air to indicate his injury to the referee. Achterberg left the field helped by Les Parry and was replaced by Russell Howarth who received a warm welcome from the Tranmere fans behind his goal. Hull had a couple of chances thwarted and Gary Jones had possibly Tranmere’s best chance of the first half saved by Myhill after good work by Goodison. A few minutes later, Hull were ahead when Ian Ashbee finished after first Goodison appeared to be fouled and then Paul Hall slipped allowing Ashbee a clear chance which he took. Six minutes later, Howarth dived at the feet of Stuart Elliott and was caught by a stray boot that resulted in a Yellow Card for Elliott but more serious consequences for Howarth and Tranmere. Howarth was bandaged up and lasted till half-time but Tranmere fans were unsure whether he would return to action in the second half. When Whitmore appeared on the touchline in a Goalkeepers shirt as the teams re-emerged a few Rovers fans heads dropped and my gut feeling was the game was over. Hume forced Myhill into a good save on 47 minutes with a free kick and just after Whitmore made his first save from Elliott albeit with his feet rather than his hands. The 54th minute saw the start of an unbelievable spell of three goals in as many minutes that effectively ended the game from Tranmere’s point of view. It began with Elliott heading in a Facey flick to double the Tigers’ lead but there joy was short-lived as Hume dribbled into the area and found Dadi who had only two minutes earlier replaced Gary Jones up front. Dadi controlled well and appeared to turn away from goal before putting the ball in the bottom right corner from a tight angle to the joy of the SuperWhites behind the goal. This time however it was Tranmere’s joy that was short-lived. After getting themselves back into the game they conceded immediately as Facey crossed for Barmby to finish. It was ten minutes before Hull got the fourth, Elliott again scoring as he ran clear of Rovers’ static defence to beat Whitmore. On 73 Jackson conceded was seemed a clear penalty by fouling Elliott who scored the resulting penalty only for it to be re-taken for encroachment. The second time the ball went into the bottom left corner for Elliott’s hat-trick with Whitmore not even moving from his central position in the goal. Two Hull substitutes combined for the final nail in the coffin with three minutes left as Wilbraham flicked on to give Danny Allsopp an easy finish and complete a miserable afternoon for Tranmere. What happens for Tranmere in goal on Boxing Day at home to Barnsley remains to be seen but a loanee is looking highly likely with Howarth concussed and Achterberg facing a longer spell out. Personally I’m gutted for Russell Howarth who after being given his chance, was unbelievably unlucky after only 20 minutes of time on the field. So once again as after Port Vale a response is needed at home to a bad defeat. They responded against Bournemouth last time so lets hope for the same against currently in form Barnsley who have won their last four matches. My Man of the Match: Ian Sharps – difficult to choose anyone but Sharps looked solid in the first half and was in control of the defence until disaster struck. Hull City: Myhill, Joseph, Cort, Delaney, Edge, Facey (Allsopp 64), Barmby (Wilbraham 78), Elliott (Keane 76), France, Green, Ashbee. Substitutes not used: Duke, Lewis. Bookings: Elliott (41), Green (45) Tranmere Rovers: Achterberg (Howarth 20, Whitmore 46), Goodison, Jackson, Sharps, Roberts, Hall, Rankine, Harrison, Beresford, Hume, Jones (Dadi 52). Substitutes not used: Jennings, Linwood. Bookings: Jones (45) Referee: Mr L Mason

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