City 1 Hull City 1
Feb 7th 2015 45,233
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WH Smith and the City shop
Didn't we used to win all home games with a few goals too! Well the way City are playing at the moment it will be a miracle if we beat Chelsea to the title. Seven points behind but then we have done it before so all is not lost - yet!
We were fortunate to get a point. Only a last minute wonder free kick by Milner saved the day for City.Hull had gone ahead after 35 minutes when City failed to clear the danger and as Hull had hit the bar earlier City could have gone in at half time two down. Despite City having 75% of possession we hardly had a shot on target and once again we had umpteen corners (13) but on many occasions failed to beat the first defender. There was little variation in City's general approach - in tempo or tactical know-how!
The lack of goal scoring opportunities in the final third was very apparent - the Hull defence saw to that.The inclusion of Dzeko and Nasri - both back from injury - caused a few questions. Why was Milner who had been playing dropped to the bench. The midfield of Fernando and Fernandinho was far from adequate so the substitution of Fernando for Navas was not surprising. I did not think we would have missed Yaya Toure so much - we have failed to win any of the games he missed.
Dzeko and Nasri back from injury replacing Navas and Milner
a fair turnout for Hull City fans
The first of the new 'front seats ' were in place
Hull clear an early City corner
a header from Dzeko is easily saved
an early chance for Hull but the flag is up for offside
a header by Elmohamady hits the post on 15 minutes
a shot by Nasri is blocked
a header by Dzeko fails to find the net
Hart clears a Hull corner
on 34 minutes Hart has to make a save then.....
.... a shot by Ramirez hits the post and the balls runs clear to Meyler who......
...shoots past Joe Hart and Hull City are a goal ahead - disaster
a chance for Dzeko but his header goes wide
an effort by Hull goes wide
a shot by Aluko goes over the bar
efforts by Nasri and Aguero are blocked by the Hull defence
injuries to Nasri and Bruce hold play up
some New York players are interviewed at half time
a Silva free kick is blocked
on 53 minutes Dzeko shoots....
A minutes later City have a good shout for a penalty when Silva comes into contact with Bruce but no whistle
Then Navas is tackled from behind by Meyler but again no whistle
Manager Bruce wanders out of his zone
Hull manage to stop an attack by City
another City attack is thwarted
Silva's shot hits Kompany following a corner
Dawson is booked for a foul on Milner
The free kick is easily saved by the keeper
a late tackle by Bruce prevents Aguero from shooting
Fernandinho ends up with a yellow card
Aguero takes a pass from Nasri well and shoots but the ball hits the bar.....
....and then bounces clear
just on time Aguero is brought down
Tom Huddlestone is booked for the foul and the referee marks out the 10 yards
Milner takes the kick and swerves it around the wall......
...and into the back of the net for a wonder goal and saves the day for City
team
Hart 6.5, Zabaleta 6.5, Kompany 7, Demichelis 6.5, Clichy 6: Fernando 5 ( Navas 6.5) Fernandinho 5.5, Nasri 6.5, Silva 6.5 (Jovetic 6) Aguero 6.5, Dzeko 6 (Milner 7.5)
