It’s Hull by late Noc out
BILIC ON THE CANVAS
I wasn’t worried before and I’m not now SLAVEN BILIC
ANDREA RANOCCHIA has gone from grump to trump.
Hull’s on-loan Italian hates driving on the wrong side of the road, is struggling to cope with the incessant rain and has failed to locate pasta since moving to England.
Luckily for boss Marco Silva though, the defender’s Serie A pedigree is shining through.
Ranocchia’s late header sealed a deserved win for the relegation strugglers and plunged West Ham into further crisis.
How the Hammers could do with some Silva service of their own.
Hull’s charismatic Portuguese coach has harvested 13 out of 15 points from the KCOM since taking over the apparent no-hopers. As a manager his last home League defeat was in 2014…a run of 39 games in Portugal, Greece and England.
“This win was really important,” said Silva. “It doesn’t decide anything but we deserved the victory.”
As well as the style of play – very easy on the eye – Silva has instilled a fighting spirit which turned out to be the difference yesterday after an average first half.
We were too slow and our build-up made it easy for West Ham,” said Silva. “But we changed our system, moved the ball much faster and achieved good moments.”
The Hammers could have been cruising after Andy Carroll swept them in front with his 50th Premier League goal. Manuel Lanzini forced a save from Eldin Jakupovic while Carroll should have scored again with a free header.
Instead a glorious fourman move finished with Andy Robertson claiming the equaliser. Even when
Alfred N’diaye hit the woodwork , Hull heads did not drop.
Ranocchia connected with Kamil Grosicki’s corner and the stadium was in dreamland, apart from the shell-shocked Hammers supporters who threw a flare on to the side of the pitch.
A steward stamped it out before sticking a bucket over it.
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has had votes of confidence from virtually anyone connected to the club including David Gold and Karren Brady. He might need even more after this fourth straight League defeat.
He said: “I am disappointed of course, this was a big game for us. I am aware of the speculation but it does not affect me. The only way you can stop speculation is to win, get points, climb the table. Now you can expect more speculation but my morale is always high, it is my job.
“Hull didn’t have a shot on target in the first half. In the second half we started OK then we conceded a goal which was avoidable. We lacked the final touch.
“Then, when you are thinking, ‘OK it is 1-1’ we concede again from a setpiece. It is very frustrating.”
There appears to be a mentality problem among Bilic’s players but a glance at the Premier League table should act as a call to arms.
Hull have been fighting for their lives from day one. Middlesbrough are the visitors on Wednesday and what an incentive that should be. Silva said when he arrived that it would take a miracle to keep Hull in the Premier League. It is still very much on.