By Albatross
December 26 2002

Pools suffered another defeat, this time as Hull opened their new Stadium. 2-0, and it's one point from a possible nine in December so far. Albatross reports from the Kingston Communications Stadium. After all the talk, and a 2 mile walk from the car to get to it, Hull's new ground certainly lived up to the hype: a magnificent stadium with a perfect pitch was to be the setting for our second defeat in three games.

As expected, Kevin Henderson came into the side at the expense of Marcus Richardson. That was the only change from the team that started against Scunthorpe, Newell deciding to stick with the 4-4-2 formation.

Pools first oportunity came on three minutes, when we were awarded a free kick on the right of the box; Smith however failed to get the ball past the first defender. Hull cleared, and launched a quick attack down the left; when the ball came across, Steve Melton sent his shot wide. Nevertheless, it was a statement of intent.

On 7 minutes, Hull were given a highly dubious free kick on the left; justice was done however when a free kick was given to Pools for pushing when the ball came over.

Hull were having much the better of the play, and attacking effectively down the left flank; Barron seemed to be having a torrid time, but the rest of the defence seemed to be coping. Pools finally managed to put together a move of their own on 15 minutes, with Williams heading a cross back across goal for Henderson to shoot; however, the ball was deflected wide for a corner. A Hull defender blocked a goalbound Pools header hear the penalty spot, and then completed the clearance.

When Hull went ahead on 20 minutes, the attack came down their right flank; the ball was played into Dean Keates in the box, and he turned sharply before neatly dinking the ball over the advancing Williams.

Pools were continuing to push forward, and it needed some stout defending to keep them from going further ahead. Pools were showing one or two signs of what they could do, and on 32 minutes some good play saw Eifion Williams latch onto the ball in the box; however he couldn't get the shot away quickly enough and eventually scuffed it. Shortly after, Hull again attacked quickly down the Pools left; when the ball came across Alexander shot first time and forced a great save from Taff.

Another good move from Pools showed some nice switching of the play from right to left and back again before winning a corner; and then just before half time Williams produced a good run that gave Tinks a half-chance that he put wide.

Hull were good value for their lead at this point; they had shown some good attacking play, especially down the flanks, and Pools were lacking a cutting edge. Paul Smith in particular looked like he was either not fit or not interested; and we were being outpassed and outbattled in midfield.

Mike Newell had obviously seen the same thing, and so he changed things around; Smith was replaced by Tommy Widdrington, Ritchie Humphreys moving out to the wing.

Pools had a scare right at the start of the second half when Williams had to race out to clear the ball, only to hit it against a Hull player; however he recovered well and with some sterling work by Graeme Lee (and the post!) averted the danger.

Pools then started to take a real grip on the game. Some good flowing football, with Humphreys especially providing fresh options. Some good work from him saw him cross to Eifion Williams, who was denied a shooting chance by a block tackle; on 49 minutes there was another good move as the ball was played across the field to Clarke, who crossed into the box for Eifion to head wide of the post. Barron was the next to try a cross from the right, and it proved to be just too long for either Pools forward to get on the end on.

Eifion Williams then cut inside well and saw a shot from 20 yards saved by Musselwhite. A few minutes later Spike received a booking after raising his foot too high in the tackle.

Hull were still causing a few problems, and on 60 minutes only a good tackle by Mickey Barron denied them another good opportunity. It was then Keates' turn to see yellow when he was booked for a foul on Eifion. From the Free Kick, about 20 yards out, Spike surprised everyone by taking it but put the ball a couple of feet too high.

There then followed a spell of sustained pressure from Pools; some good patient approach play pushed Hull back, but the final ball just wouldn't come. Eventually Clarke managed to get a shot in; his powerful effort went just wide of the far post.

Then, almost totally against the run of play, Hull scored to make the game safe. A throughball found Stuart Green , and the former Newcastle player managed to poke it past the advancing Williams. The sucker punch, and as if to emphasise this Peter Taylor took off a forward in Alexander and brought on another Central Defender to make sure he held on to what he'd got. At the same time, Henderson made way for Richardson.

Despite bringing on the lanky targetman, Pools continued to do their best to play their way out of trouble, but seemed unable to break down Hull's defence. With ten minutes to go, Steven Istead came on for Darrell Clarke; almost straight after that Barron put a good ball into the box that was cleared as far as Tommy Widdrington, who shot just over.

A couple of minutes later Pools came as close to scoring as they had in the whole match. More good build up play saw Tinkler try a shot from just outside the area; his rasping effort hit the outside of the post and went behind.

A couple more chances followed, with Richardson turning well before shooting wide, and Tinkler heading past the post from a corner, but it wasn't to be Pools day as the whistle blew to leave the Hull fans to celebrate a maiden league victory in their new stadium.

To an extent, results went Pools way again today; Rushden and Cambridge could only manage draws, while Bournemouth and Bury were both defeated. For the first time in more than three months we have been toppled from the top, but only Goal Difference gives Rushden the edge with a six point gap back to Cambridge and Bournemouth.

Pools played some very neat football in the second half, but lacked a real cutting edge; and more than anything that's what cost us the match. Paul Smith was particularly disappointing: whether it's injury or something else, he's nothing like the player he was last season. Meanwhile, Istead continues to make the case for his first start. Newell must surely be tempted to start him on Saturday; and I'd personally like to see Humphreys playing wide left, and Clarke and Tinkler in the middle.

Whatever the lineup, A win on Saturday is now a must. Two defeats and a draw mean December has been a very poor month so far; Rushden are already past us, and we need to pick up quickly to stay with them and avoid being sucked back into the pack. I wouldn't say it's a crisis yet - but I would say that unless we pick up at least six points from the next three games it's going to be a very uncomfortable time for Mike Newell and Kevin Sheedy.