Reds defeated at Hull
Jay Simpson was unlucky to pick up a yellow card after a 50-50 challenge with Luke Steele that left the Reds’ number one in a heap on the deck but the referee probably thought the striker had raised his leg too high.Back between the sticks Steele pulled off a splendid save to deny Koren’s low, rasping drive away to his right after Golbourne was caught out down the left just past the half-hour mark.
Dawson took matters into his own hands on 25 minutes and did ever so well to keep the ball in play whilst sprinting down the right-wing and put in a marvellous cross for Done who was just beaten to the ball. From the follow-up Etuhu was thwarted by a last-ditch tackle.
Barely two minutes after the opening goal, David Perkins was replaced by Chris Dagnall.
With absolutely nothing happening in the opening 15 minutes, Hull City’s first shot on goal resulted in, indeed, a goal. John Stones cleared a corner straight into the path of Aluko and he simply fired through a crowd of bodies and into the corner from 12 yards. It was yet another poor goal to concede on Barnsley’s part.
The Reds had set up with no recognised strikers although Matty Done was operating highest up the pitch alongside Kelvin Etuhu and the duo combined well on four minutes to see Done strike an effort wide after a deflection.
A poor goal settled a poor contest at the KC Stadium and it was certainly a performance to forget from Barnsley’s point of view, particularly the first half. There were glimpses of hope for the Reds as the game wore on but it was too little too late.
Barnsley 0
Hull City 1 (Aluko 15)
Barnsley’s first shot at goal of the match came on 49 minutes through Stephen Dawson from 22 yards. The Irishman lashed over, however, after Cywka played him a near square ball.
After the break the Reds must surely have had the half-time ‘talking to’ well and truly reverberating in their ears but they started off no better with another giveaway in defence. Thankfully Jay Simpson blazed over on 47 minutes after being gifted a one-on-one with Steele.
It was a simply awful first half that the travelling hundreds of Reds fans were glad to see the back of.
Barnsley’s ‘keeper once again came to his side’s rescue with another outstanding save to deny Evans’ header – it would have been game over had his header sneaked in on 39 minutes.
With the Reds looking stronger and more of a threat as the game wore on, City threatened to double their lead but again Luke Steele worked wonders to keep out Simpson with the goal at his mercy.
Dagnall’s hard work almost paid off after hunting down a stray City pass. The forward charged forward, skipping easily past McShane, but Chester recovered just before the striker tried his luck from inside the area.
Toni Silva was introduced for his Barnsley and Championship debut with just less than 20 minutes to play. The winger had to wait barely 20 seconds for his first touch – a shot from the scraps of a corner that sailed well over the bar.
The Reds’ best chance of the match so far came for Matty Done as the winger burst forward down the centre but dragged a right-footed effort low and wide of Amos’ post.
Attendance: 15, 598
Referee: Mr M. Heywood.
Subs: Alnwick, Hassell, O’Brien, McNulty.
Reds: Steele, Golbourne, Stones, Foster, Wiseman, Cranie, Cywka (Harewood 80), Perkins (Dagnall 18), Dawson, Etuhu, Done (Silva 71).
Subs: Jakupovic, Olofinjana, Faye, Proschwitz.
Hull City: Amos, Rosenior, Elmohamady, Chester, Bruce (Dawson 65), McShane, Evans, Quinn, Koren, Aluko (McKenna 80), Simpson (McLean 86).
Four minutes were added with the Reds searching for an equaliser but Hull were taking their time in possession and eventually saw out the match.
