Hull City vs Crystal Palace: Back-loaded victory is Steve Bruce’s answer to Neil Warnock
Bruce was unapologetic about shoring up a hitherto leaky defence by playing three centre-backs
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Neil Warnock is a specialist in damning with faint praise, especially after one of his sides has been beaten, and he was at his most supercilious after his first defeat as Crystal Palace manager, 2-0 at Hull City.
“The way that Hull set up was a compliment to us,” Warnock said, referring to Steve Bruce’s decision to go back to a 3-5-2 formation.
“I don’t know if they’ll get away with that home and away,” sniffed Warnock. “The first goal was always going to win the game.”
Bruce was unapologetic about shoring up a hitherto leaky defence by playing three centre-backs. The system, and Palace’s inability to adapt, allowed full-backs Ahmed Elmohamady and Andy Robertson to play as old-fashioned half-backs, and Hull looked altogether more fluent for it.
“I just felt as if with the two full-backs we’ve got, who like to get forward, maybe we’re a bit too open,” said Bruce after second-half goals from Mohamed Diamé – his third in four appearances for Hull – and Nikita Jelavic gave his side a win they badly needed.
More relevant, he said, was his players cutting out the individual errors.
“I had to warn them: if you make errors, you’re not going to play,” he said. “A win in the Premier League is so difficult. I said last year we needed 10 and we got them. It seems easy, but it ain’t when you’ve got Arsenal, Liverpool and Southampton coming up.”
Goals: Hull Diamé 60, Jelavic 89.
Subs: Hull Ramirez (Hernandez, 76), Rosenior (Robertson, 81), Bruce (Elmohamady, 90); Palace Mariappa (Dann, 12), Chamakh (Campbell, 64), Gayle (McArthur, 70).
Booked: Hull Livermore Palace Mariappa, Campbell.
Man of match Diamé Match rating 6/10.
Possession: Hull 59% Palace 41%
Shots on target: Hull 2 Palace 2
Referee M Dean (Wirral) Attendance 24,281.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments