Phelan pans his pretty boys as Hull give it away
HAVING witnessed his team roll out the red carpet for West Bromwich at two corners to prompt another defeat, Mike Phelan finished his press conference by fielding a question on a rumoured move for Samuel Eto’o.
‘If he is interested then why not,’ said Phelan, laughing. ‘Maybe he can defend set pieces! That is what we need at the moment.’
Such levity could not mask the stern words Hull’s manager had for his players minutes earlier. He questioned their courage in trying to stop headed goals by Chris Brunt and Gareth McAuley, his frustration no doubt doubled by his side having held the lead at half-time. ‘In the first half we were tremendous,’ Phelan said. ‘ But you can’t win Premier League games simply by playing nice, neat football. You have to do the dirty bits at the other end.
‘We left two spaces open and suffered. We have to be braver in those situations, probably take a knock, because it matters to stay in this league. You can’t just be a pretty boy. You have to put your head on it, your boot on it, your body in front of it.’
There was a period when it appeared Hull might earn the rarest of away victories. Robert Snodgrass had scored the club’s first goal on the road in eight hours and 47 minutes, and they were testing a West Brom side who do not buckle easily. But Brunt and McAuley turned the match early in the second period and James Morrison’s late goal meant that, for the fourth time in five home games, Tony Pulis’s side had scored at least three.
This was a sixth win in 10 games and the only defeats in that spell have come narrowly to Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal.
Pulis has given his players today and tomorrow off after the busy festive period but scoffed at the suggestion they had done well to produce a victory for the second time in three days.
‘Society’s got softer,’ Pulis said. ‘Two games in three days playing football, for the money they get? Ask their grandads who worked 12-hour days down the pit. They never got tired. We’ve prepared right but we’ve never mentioned to them they’re going to be tired. The longer the game went on, they showed the energy they possess.’
Hull started much the brighter and went ahead in fine fashion in the 21st minute. Jake Livermore floated a pass from midfield to Ahmed Elmohamady on the wing and the Egyptian sent in a cross, allowing Snodgrass to steer home a finish on the half-volley.
West Brom looked in trouble when Jonny Evans was forced off on the half-hour through injury. Pulis sent on Allan Nyom and switched to match Hull’s threeat-the-back system.
Albion levelled in the 49th minute. Matt Phillips delivered a decent corner and two Hull players were drawn to Craig Dawson, allowing Brunt yards of space at the far post. His diving header flew into the roof of the net.
Hull’s confidence was shaken and it was little surprise when they went behind just after the hour. Phillips hit another inswinging corner that McAuley met, beating Curtis Davies in the air.
Had Sam Clucas figured out guarding the post is best accomplished by standing on the line, the goal could have been avoided. As it was Clucas took a step backwards, so by the time he cleared it, the ball had crossed the line.
In the 73rd minute the hosts clinched it. Hal Robson-Kanu beat Harry Maguire and crossed to Morrison, who took advantage of more statuesque defending.
Hull extended their winless run to nine games and provided every indication that even with the services of Eto’o, the only reward for this campaign will be a ticket to the Championship.