Thumping brewing and it’s keeping up with the Joneses
Asecond successive 2-0 cup victory was Hull City’s reward for seeing off the challenge of plucky League Two side Harrogate Town on Tuesday. In the first ever competitive meeting between these two clubs, a muchchanged Tigers side had to be patient and wait until the 75th minute before finally hitting the front.
That opener from substitute James Scott was added to by Welsh Under-19 international Callum Jones, when he won and scored a penalty five minutes from time to cap off a fine personal display.
Grant Mccann’s men are now on the verge of qualifying for the last 32 in the competition, and know a home victory over struggling Grimsby Town next Tuesday at the KCOM will see them through.
Martin Samuelsen - the great enigma
There’s little doubt about the ability of the young playmaker, though many City fans will point to the fact he’s rarely taken his chance when it was presented to him
At Harrogate, the 23-year-old gave a greater example of his talents, and while it was against a newly-promoted League Two side, it should give him confidence moving forward.
There was one moment in particular in the first half when the Norwegian had his back to a player, received the ball, dropped a shoulder and spun away looking to create something in the final third. It was a phase of play which typified his involvement and the classy nature of his display.
In setting up the opening goal for Scott, Samuelsen ensured there was end product after a flurry of team moves which lacked that killer ball.
Few, either inside the KCOM or out, would doubt that the former West Ham youngster has the tools at his disposal to be a success in League One, if he takes his chance, and while that won’t be easy given the form of George Honeyman, Keane Lewis-potter and Mallik Wilks, he should be reinvigorated after this showing.
Brewing up a thumping
Mccann has often pointed to City’s profligacy in front of goal this season, and rightly so - so while they’ve scored 16 in the league and seven in their cup games, that tally could and probably should be at least 50 percent higher, if not more.
Even when you reference the fact City have scored in their last 15 games since the 0-0 draw at Sunderland, there’s still more to be had.
On Tuesday, City once again created some very good chances but passed so many up before eventually netting the opener 15 minutes from time.
At least those goals are coming, but these games should be put to bed much earlier in the contest and that’s something Mccann is acutely aware of because it will continue to cost them, like it did at Swindon.
If the game goes ahead, Burton are the visitors to the KCOM on Saturday and they’ll bring with them the division’s leakiest defence (21) which will give the Tigers a real chance to put a team to the sword.
Given the sheer amount of opportunities they’re creating, you fancy at some point somebody somewhere is going to be on the wrong end of a heavy beating, and given the Brewers’ woeful form, this weekend provides a great opportunity.
Keeping up with the Joneses
When the team sheets were revealed an hour before kick-off, there may have been a raised eyebrow or two at Callum Jones being stuck on the right side of defence alongside namesake Alfie.
A natural midfielder, Jones was deployed as captain at right-back and gave an assured display, particularly after enduring a difficult opening period up against the tricky and very talented Tom Walker.
Jones won that battle well and kept Walker largely quiet in the second period, before going close with a dipping volley which was acrobatically saved by ex-city youngster Joe Cracknell, who incidentally had a fine evening against his former club.
He then won the penalty five minutes from time before firing it into the net to rubberstamp what ended up being a fairly comfortable evening.
Think before writing the Trophy off...
There will be many fans, players and coaches alike that have little time for a competition such as the EFL Trophy, or Papa John’s as it’s now known.
Historically, the crowds for the competition
have been nothing short of abysmal and the introduction of Under-23 teams from the Championship and Premier League hardly enhanced its credibility.
For City, however, this competition is a brilliant opportunity.
Not only does it generate a little bit of income, which at the current time, may well help keep somebody in a job, but it also gives Mccann the chance to utilise what is a very big squad, give younger players valuable experience and keep the fringe players fresh for when they’ll likely be needed as the season wears on.
Let’s not forget it gives the Tigers the most likely chance of a visit to Wembley this season.
And given the recent news about a coronavirus vaccine being very close to being made available, who’s to say that some Tigers fans won’t get the chance to be at a potential final under the arch on March 14?
A missed opportunity?
Will Tom Eaves, Thomas Mayer and Hakeeb Adelakun all reflect on their evening at Wetherby Road with a degree of frustration?
Mayer showed glimpses of quality coming off the right flank in his 58 minutes, even if his speed of thought was at times too much for his colleagues, and the final ball was a disappointment. Eaves’ 70 minutes was another important step on his road to recovery after injury, and there’s little doubt the striker will have been left annoyed at not getting his name on the score sheet.
There was a great chance he passed up first half, before he saw what looked a perfectly good goal chalked off for a rather debatable offside decision.
While in the case of Adelakun, it was another performance which showed glimpses of promise but they were all too infrequent.
I’m not sure any of the three did enough to be hopeful of a league start.