FULL-TIME: Bristol City 1, Hull City 2
Bristol City slipped into the npower Championship relegation zone for the first time this season after suffering a second home defeat inside four days.
Hull joined Blackburn, Leeds and Burnley in winning at Ashton Gate, scoring a goal in each half to carve out their first win in BS3 since 1965.
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Derek McInnes
Some Aluko scored one goal and had a hand in the other as the Tigers deservedly claimed all three points.
Aluko fired the visitors in front after eight minutes, but City equalised through Steven Davies midway through the first half, the in-form striker netting his sixth goal of the season.
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City have won just one of their last 10 games and are now one place off the foot of the table.
But City's defensive frailties resurfaced when Aluko was allowed to shoot in the 65th minute and Robins midfielder Cole Skuse put through his own net.
City were under pressure before a ball had even been kicked after wins for Peterborough United and Sheffield Wednesday saw the Robins drop into the relegation zone for the first time this season.
And things went from bad to worse for the home side when Hull took the lead after just eight minutes.
Despite manager Derek McInnes making five changes in a quest to render his team more difficult to beat, the Tigers waltzed through City's defence with embarrassing ease, Jay Simpson playing a perfectly-weighted return pass into the path of Sone Aluko, who picked his spot from 10 yards out.
You could have heard a pin drop inside Ashton Gate when Egypt international Ahmed Elmohamady surged past debutant left-back Matthew Briggs and tried his luck with an angled shot that was held by keeper Tom Heaton.
City's formation made the team narrow and Hull were enjoying plenty of joy on the flanks and they should have doubled their lead on 22 minutes, Liam Rosenior racing in at the far post and heading inches wide from Elmohamady's right wing cross.
City weathered the early storm and produced an equaliser against the run of play on 25 minutes.
Jon Stead played the ball into Ryan Taylor, who turned Paul McShane and played a penetrating through ball into the path of Stephen Pearson. The Scot had the presence of mind to look up and pick out Steven Davies and the Liverpudlian stroked home his fourth goal in three games to level matters.
Encouraged by that success, City went close from a corner which was headed over by Lewin Nyatanga.
But Hull posed the greater threat and almost profited from another swift counter-attack, Simpson narrowly failing to apply a finishing touch to another Elmohamady centre.
Just as they did in the first period, Hull started the second half the brighter of the two teasm and almost restored their lead when Robert Koren rattled the cross bar with a thunderous drive that had Heaton clawing at thin air.
City responded and Stead was unfortunate to see his low shot deflect off keeper Ben Amos's leg and loop up onto the bar following neat approach play from Davies and Taylor.
Aluko then made his second meaningful contribution of the match in the 65th minute, testing Heaton with a shot which the ex-Manchester United man pushed aside. But Stephen Quinn was on hand to whip the ball back into the mix and Cole Skuse inadvertently bundled the ball into his own net from close range.
Manager Derek McInnes introduced Sam Baldock and Albert Adomah in a bid to rescue the game, but City continued to huff and puff with little end product to show for their endeavour.
Stead saw a shot sail over before making way for Paul Anderson and Taylor came close to snatching an equaliser, only to see his header rebound off the bar.
City (4-4-2): Heaton; M Wilson (Adomah 72), McManus, Nyatanga, Briggs; Foster, Skuse, Pearson; Davies (Baldock 69), Stead (Anderson 82), Taylor.
Hull (3-5-2): Amos; McShane, Chester, Bruce; Rosenior, Elmohamady, Quinn, Koren (McKenna 74), Evans (Olofinjana 86); Simpson (McLean 90), Aluko.
Referee: Fred Barber (Essex)
Attendance: 12,354
Comments
by BinRelegated
Monday, October 29 2012, 2:38PM
“It was a much more solid performance and, had we took the chances and had some luck, we may have even won the match.
Davies was huffing and puffing so i think thats the reason he came off and to bring on Baldock isnt exactly a bad option to have.
We are still a bit short in defence and it was a shame that Wilson had a bad back because Lewin on the right just makes it all off balanced. I have a feeling once we get a clean sheet we will restore the confidence.
Have faith reds, i believe the players are good enough but they have been let down by poor leadership on the field which has now, through misfortune, been rectified.
We should ask Cisse to return though, maybe a short term contract if we wont sign for longer?”
by DaveinSA
Sunday, October 28 2012, 7:19PM
“my hibernation lasted all of five days...City have a problem and it's symptomatic for a number of years.
A season is 46 games. A game is 90 minutes. A team needs to play as a team for both. City are incapable of doing it.
If I was Derek I would have taken the boys after the game and made them run, and run, and run, and run and run until they all collapsed. Then I might have given them a drink of water. And then I would have made them run again.
It's not good enough.
Four own goals conceded this season. Rubbish.
C'mon.
Relegation is my favourite.”
by piledriver
Sunday, October 28 2012, 7:15PM
“Before anyone hangs Cole Skuse, can someone tell me who else in our midfield, with the exception of Elliott, ever tackles anyone?
Briggs was knackered after 65 min last night and that's no real surprise as Prem Resv games are no more than kick abouts.
Morris-Not good enough, certainly to play in a two
Kilkenny (Inj)-More creative but rarely features and better in a three
Pearson, better in a three.Not good defensively.Works hard & gets the odd goal
Elliott (Inj)Breaks up play well in the final third but not a holding midfielder.Scores the odd goal.
Reid-Very attack minded and skillfull but won't add anything in defence.
No one, with the possible exception of Reid, who couldn't get in Cheltenhams first team last season, can "ping" a pass.Kilkenny may slip a ball in from ten yards and that could be good news for Baldock who must be tired of seeing the ball disappear over his bonce!
McInness seems to me to have signed players without a clear view of how the sum of the parts fits into a slick machine.”
by Pilkington
Sunday, October 28 2012, 1:01PM
“Well said Piledriver, and the comments from a number of fans unhappy about Davies being substituted.
Derek, get a firm grip of this slump, and fast, otherwise the dressing room won't be the only thing you lose...”
by gdknac
Sunday, October 28 2012, 9:54AM
“Somebody, a while ago on here, described Skuse as - gets a big cheer for winning a crunching tackle,but it is usually to win a ball back that he has just given away-
He lacks any accuracy with a pass and is not the creative midfielder that we need.-
His tackling is good and I feel that he is better suited at right back-
I would give james Wilson a run at RCB-He is at an age now where he needs to either establish himself fully or go elsewhere, we are not being fair to him otherwise.
Cunninghams return is awaited but we do have Briggs as cover meanwhile as well as McManus-
We need to defend as a flat back 4-Perhaps go back to the 5 in midfield and 1 up top- Not popular, but we clearly struggle to compete playing 4-4-2.
Injuries havent helped,but we do need to keep a consistent defence.I would keep davies up front. He looked good the first time he came on and has genuine quality-he says himself thathe is nearly fully match fit.
I still think McInnes is a good manager, but does need to keep a settled side now.”
by Marksy
Sunday, October 28 2012, 7:40AM
“by Rangersfc69
Totally agree with you comments regarding Skuse. He was just as bad against a very average Burnley side the other night. ( They lost 4-0 against Cardiff today ) Perhaps the bloke who announces his name before game should stop saying Skuuuuuuuuuuusssssssse. Now is the time for the players to man up and earn their wages.”
by Rangersfc69
Sunday, October 28 2012, 1:46AM
“First chance to watch city on Sky...once again very very poor. DM is getting a lot of stick...all I can say is he is a good manager with very average players. Some he has brought in but most were already there. I'm sorry but Skuse is terrible, absolutely overrated! Every highlight show I've seen he is at fault along with LF...no pace, no strength, no passion, no clue, no desire...he needs to stop thinking he is a superstar driving round in a fancy car and start playing football...the game passes him by on a regular basis. Add all these faults together and that is who we have to protect the back 4? Laughable!
The whole midfield was slow tonight...and why oh why do we never put teams under pressure? Hull worked harder without the ball than with it and city showed the players are not good enough to cope with limited time on the ball.
Overall, the players are not working hard enough, we need more pace (AA will always be a danger, as will Davies, Stead worked hard for the cause but please don't play him as a wide man, SB should play every time, get Elliott on the pitch get Skuse off it) and for god sake get stuck in boys, make a reputation for yourselves that you won't lie down, especially at home!!!
Money is not the answer, less tattoos, fancy cars, hair styles, high wages and more graft, desire and BALLS is what is needed!!”
by Burwallian
Sunday, October 28 2012, 12:34AM
“Well we are where most of us predicted before the games against Burnley and Hull. That gives me no pleasure but it was oh so predictable.
So where are the men we have called out for so long? Nowhere!
The Club will now see attendances plummet and revenue hit for 6 as our side could not now even beat a Sunday parks side!
Other sides can slice through us like a hot knife through butter and we have no clue in terms of team formation and defence to prevent it happening.More changes to-day and we continue to re-arrange the deckchairs on the Titanic. Soon we will have to introduce the players to each other on the pitch as they will be strangers to one another.
The only good thing to come out of to-day was that we only conceded 2 goals to-day.
So Board and Derek what's your call? ACTION not more words!”
by piledriver
Saturday, October 27 2012, 11:45PM
“Anyone noticed how well the teams without managers are doing?”
by piledriver
Saturday, October 27 2012, 11:43PM
“Few quick points:
City lined up 4-3-3
Foster played right centre mid as opposed to LB or RB.He can only play RB.
Stead played wide left mostly and Davies looked out of position, centre right.
Nyatanga was also out of position at RCB but didn't do to badly apart from playing Hull onside for what should have been a goal.
Wilson was poor at RB
No one in our midfield can play a creative forward pass with any degree of accuracy or certainty.
Briggs ran out of steam after about 60 minutes but didn't look to bad.
Stead did well out of position
I'm rapidly losing faith in McInnes whose track record in English Football-Ours,looks decidedly average/poor after 47 games.
Does SL give him more money or cut his losses and bring in an expereinced manager like McCarthy who's done it before and knows what it takes?
SL has allowed Del to restructure the playing side of the club-Was he right?”