Barmby accepts draw is end of the Hull road

Nick Barmby was “gutted” for his players after Hull’s play-off hopes all-but ended following their 1-1 draw against 10-man Watford at Vicarage Road.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th Apr 2012, 12:25 BST

James Chester had headed the visitors into a fourth-minute lead but this was soon cancelled out by Troy Deeney and neither side was able to find a winner, even though the hosts had to negotiate the last 25 minutes a man down after half-time substitute Adrian Mariappa was sent off following two yellow cards.

The draw leaves Hull six points off the play-offs with just three games left and Barmby admitted he was devastated for his team.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “I’m gutted for them – not for me because I don’t particularly care about myself. I’m gutted for them because I genuinely thought we could get in the play-offs and that’s not me putting my Hull City hat on.

“I think the ability that they’ve got, we should be challenging really in the play-offs and we haven’t managed to do that. We have had injuries to key players which in any team you are going to struggle. I’m gutted for them.”

Barmby added: “We should have won the game, we had the chances to win the game. In the first half we had chances to put it to bed and we didn’t do that.

“Watford go up the other end and we put pressure on ourselves with a silly free-kick and then a corner and give away a daft goal. I’m disappointed today.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I genuinely believe, pound for pound, we’re as good as the play-off teams but if you don’t stick the ball in the back of the net, that’s why they’re in the play-offs and we’re not. It’s another missed opportunity and we’ve had too many missed opportunities this season and you pay the price at the end of the day.”

Hull struck first when Andy Dawson whipped his set piece into the near post and Chester headed past Tomas Kuszczak. But the Hornets equalised when Deeney applied the finishing touch to a John Eustace shot.

Watford: Kuszczak, Doyley, Taylor (Mariappa 46), Nosworthy, Dickinson, Eustace, Buaben, Murray, Hogg, Deeney, Garner (Iwelumo 83). Unused substitutes: Loach, Whichelow, Assombalonga.

Hull: Mannone, Rosenior, Chester, Cooper, Dawson, Evans, Cairney, King (Stewart 52), Garcia (Brady 75), Koren, Fryatt. Unused substitutes: Oxley, Bradley, Olofinjana

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire). Man of the Match: James Chester.

Related topics:HullWatford