Magennis misses penalty as City crash to defeat
POSH SEAL VICTORY AS TIGERS PAY FOR FAILURE TO TAKE THEIR CHANCES - AGAIN
Peterborough United were without an away win on their return to the Championship, and for those Hull City fans that went to the MKM Stadium last night, it probably wouldn’t have come as much of a surprise to see them end that woeful run with a 2-1 victory.
If ever a game summed up City’s disappointing start to the season, this would be it. Lots of good play, scored a decent goal, missed some even better chances along with a penalty and conceded two dreadful goals.
Jack Taylor’s terrific finish from another set-piece put Posh in front before Josh Magennis headed City level two minutes later on the cusp of half-time.
Mallik Wilks was felled inside the box giving City the chance to take the lead, but Magennis bashed it miles over the bar, and then the sucker punch came when Sirki Demble sauntered past City’s static rear-guard to clip in the winner 18 minutes from time.
To top off what was yet another bad night in front of his own supporters for Grant
Mccann, Tom Huddlestone’s return lasted only the first 25 minutes.
Chants of ‘Mccann out’ and ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ were audible throughout and if we ever needed proof that City are destined for a relegation battle over the next few months, this was it, against a side equally as inept defensively as them.
This was a game City could not afford to lose, but lose it they did and now Saturday’s trip to Luton Town looks even more daunting.
Mccann made three changes to the side beaten across Yorkshire at Huddersfield Town on Saturday, recalling Greg Docherty to sit alongside George Honeyman, while there was a first start since Swansea in early September for Huddlestone and a return for Magennis to lead the line. Randell Williams was back on the bench alongside Andy Cannon and Richie Smallwood, but there was no place for Tyler Smith, Matt Smith or Ryan Longman.
If Mccann thought he was under pressure before the game then chants of ‘we want Brucie back’ within the opening 10 minutes with the score at 0-0 would have hardly filled him with deep joy.
His mood almost worsened when City lost the ball high up the pitch allowing Peterborough to counter with two men but thankfully for Mccann and his side, Taylor’s finish couldn’t match his dynamic.
That scare aside, City were dominant and went close when Di’shon Bernard flashed a header wide and then spooned a volley from inside the box.
Their dominance was almost rewarded in breathtaking style 17 minutes in when Honeyman’s inswinging free-kick from wide on the left was batted away by the goalkeeper to Huddlestone 25 yards from goal, and on the full, his volley swept through bodies before rattling the outside of the post.
More questionable defending from the haphazard visitors then saw Honeyman afford space to drive through the middle before playing in Keane Lewis-potter via a deflection and his effort was smothered by the goalkeeper.
Huddlestone again tested Cornell who was already collecting overtime and he’d only been playing 20 minutes.
For all their dominance, City still looked susceptible at the back and having won a freekick 25 yards out, ex-nottingham Forest man Jorge Grant went close with a low driven effort which had Matt Ingram stretching.
City’s momentum was completely sapped just before the half-hour mark when Huddlestone was withdrawn with what looked like a hamstring problem.
The ground fell flat as the 34-year-old limped off for what may well be another lengthy spell out of action, and his replacement, Smallwood, had it all to do.
Nutmegged and then tried a long raking pass for Wilks which was cut out easily, and the tone was set.
Posh sensed a way back into it and the opening goal was not too far away, City again