Hull City 3 Bristol City 0: Tigers captain Hobbs back on goal trail three years on

STRIKER Matty Fryatt ended his longest run in a Hull shirt without a goal but his drought paled into insignificance compared to that of team-mate Jack Hobbs.

Fryatt found the net for the first time in 10 games as the Tigers coasted back into the play-off zone but the biggest celebrations were with central defender Hobbs.

He had last netted on January 24, 2009, in Leicester City’s 4-2 win over Huddersfield so it was a surprise to everyone when he got the Tigers on the way to victory, diving to meet the first corner of the match from Robert Koren and seeing his 13th-minute header strike Lewin Nyatanga on its way past a flat-footed David James.

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“I can’t believe you’re even asking the question! After one goal in three years and you’re trying to take it away from me,” was the £850,000 signing’s response when asked if he was claiming it.

“It was a good delivery from Robbie. The guy marking got the wrong line and when I got there, it ended up in the net. I was delighted with it.

“My last goal was a header from a corner. Steve Howard nodded it back across and I got my head on it. It seems a long time ago now, too long to remember!”

Hobbs was more delighted by Hull’s fourth successive clean sheet than by his goal.

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Liam Rosenior and Andy Dawson are giving opponents little space down the flanks and Arsenal loanee Vito Mannone has yet to be beaten in goal yet it is the central defensive partnership between captain Hobbs and James Chester that is most impressive.

Even when Bristol looked certain to score, Chester came to the rescue, clearing off the line from sole striker Chris Wood’s header after Albert Adomah’s shot had rattled the bar and doing the same to block Marvin Elliott’s header from the visitors’ first corner in the 74th minute.

By the time of Chester’s first intervention, Hull had gone 2-0 up within two minutes of their first strike. Robbie Brady sent a delightful cross from the right and Koren gave James no chance as he headed home his ninth goal of the season.

Fryatt matched him on the same mark in the 56th minute, having had three opportunities to make it 3-0 after the break.

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Fryatt had shot into both side-nettings and had only been denied by a brave block from former England No 1 James before Koren pushed the ball through, allowing the striker to hold off Wood and sidestep the goalkeeper before sidefooting home.

The partnership between Koren, operating in front of the midfield four, and Fryatt could well be key to Hull’s chances of remaining in the play-offs for goals are in short supply elsewhere in the side.

In fact, only struggling Bristol have converted fewer of their goal attempts than Hull in Championship action this season.

“The whole back four would like to contribute more. We’ve been working on it in training and Steve Wigley has been talking me through it. It paid dividends today but we have to build on that and hopefully get a few more goals,” said Hobbs.

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Birmingham are sure to present Hull a sterner test of their credentials in tomorrow night’s encounter than a Bristol side lacking their regular centre-backs through injury and suspension but Hobbs is undaunted by the trip.

“We’re confident we can stay there. We want to be right in amongst them and be looking up if anything.

“It’s a tough test against an in-form Birmingham side and we’re expecting a tough game, but if we can go there and win, we’ll go above them.

“Our confidence is high and we’re playing well so we’ll just try and keep the results coming.

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“We need to find that consistency between now and the end of the season.

“We always aim to work harder, be fitter and quicker than the opposition, and it’s serving us well.

“That needs to continue through a busy spell, especially in March, and we’ll look to try and keep picking up those points.”

Hull face a nine-game schedule in March and so squad strength will be important.

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With his side in control, Barmby took the opportunity to give young Manchester United loanee Josh King his third run-out from off the bench up front and head of football operations Adam Pearson says the club will look to bring in a versatile defender to provide cover.

He would have to be of top quality to fit in, for the Tigers boast the best defensive record in the Championship with just 25 goals conceded in 29 games.

One area where they could come unstuck believes visiting manager Derek McInnes is with the KC Stadium pitch.

“There is no doubt Hull deserved to win the game,” said McInnes, who also lost holding midfield player Kalifa Cisse through injury midway through the first half.

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“But I feel for Hull playing on that pitch. They are a good passing side but it doesn’t really allow them to play the way they want to play. They used the conditions in the second half, getting in behind us and turning us.

“It was the same for both sides but it is the worst pitch we have played on this season. I feel for Hull. It does not do them any favours although they did a job on it today. It might have an impact in the weeks and months ahead for it is only going to get worse.”

With Hull City now under Egyptian ownership with the Allam family, there was an impeccably-observed one minute’s silence prior to kick-off in tribute to the 74 supporters who lost their lives in the recent crowd disaster at the Al-Ahly v Al-Masri game.