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Hull City must eradicate 'classic flaws' of bottom half team as first real pressure arrives

-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


The suggestion of must-win games at the beginning of November seems a little premature, given we’ve only played 12 games of a 46-game campaign, and Hull City remain a work in progress. But for City, it feels like we’ve arrived at a crucial juncture of the campaign, with the Tigers still trying to work their way into the Championship and develop their own identity.

Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Derby County was inherently frustrating for City, and boss Tim Walter, who began his summing up with a well-worn expletive to express his displeasure. That feeling will have been echoed by the majority of the 2,600 sold-out away following at Pride Park, who made their way out feeling disappointed that Walter’s men were not able to build on the lead given to them by Xavier Simons early in the second half. Derby offered little away from set-pieces and were out on their feet, according to Paul Warne, so this was two points dropped without any question.

City have won just three of those opening 12 games and they all came in a three-game burst, and those were the only time the Tigers have managed to net more than one goal, while just one clean sheet has been kept.

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Walter is struggling to find the right formula, and a happy balance between trying to be effective going forward, but also tight and resolute at the back. The last two games against Burnley and Derby have shown promise, but they’ve also highlighted areas of worry, namely a lack of creativity at one end and an inability to keep a clean sheet at the other. The classic flaw in teams who find themselves at the wrong end of a table. It’s all well and good wanting to play attacking football, but if you need to score two goals to win a game, then you’re giving yourselves an uphill battle - and just now, they’re not doing that.

A home clash against Portsmouth provides City with a chance to end their four-game run without victory, and secure just a second MKM Stadium success under Walter, and after just 12 games, it's importance can't be understated.

Pompey are bottom of the table and have found the transition from League One back to the Championship difficult, to say the least. Friday night’s home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday after being in front, summed up their early frustrations and their ongoing concerns.

Winless at Fratton Park, the Blues have at least been better on the road with their only victory so far coming at QPR a couple of midweeks ago, but make no mistake about it, this feels like a big game for City. Tigers fans coming to the game on Saturday will be coming filled with hope and expectation but also no shortage of trepidation, given their awful home results so far in 2024 - just three wins.

While it’s still early in the campaign, and City remain a work in progress, there has to be tangible signs that things are going in the right direction and with that, they have to win games.

Paul Warne told Hull Live at Pride Park he felt City would be a top-six team, and he reiterated those claims off the record, suggesting a firm belief that Walter’s men could become that later in the season, but if that is to be the case, beating teams at the bottom of the table, on home soil, is absolutely paramount.

The visit of John Mousinho’s men also kick-starts a three-game week leading into the final international break of the calendar year, and with just points from their three games so far, Walter will want to go to Oxford United next Tuesday night in a positive mindset, especially with a tricky-looking home clash with West Brom to round off the latest round of fixtures.