KC Stadium Saturday, August 21st, 2010   Championship Attendance: 20,426       Hull City 0-0 Watford               Kilbane (45), Barmby (80)   Buckley (45)
2010 /11

Comments :

Hull City vs Watford 0 - 0 Date: 21/08/2010 Venue: Kingston Comms Stadium Attendance: 20,426 Referee: S Mathieson Hull City and Watford played out a 0-0 draw in the npower Championship at the KC Stadium on Saturday afternoon. It was a game that failed to spark into life with chances few and far between. However, City did at least produce a much better defensive effort following last weekend''s 0-4 defeat at Millwall. On his 47th birthday, manager Nigel Pearson made four changes to City''s starting line-up. Paul McShane replaced Nolberto Solano at right back while Liam Cooper came in for Anthony Gardner at centre back. Robert Koren played in midfield to make his full debut ahead of Will Atkinson and Jay Simpson made his debut as a replacement for Richard Garcia. Cooper was in the thick of the action straight away with a challenge that certainly let Watford man Marvin Sordell know that he was around. Other than that, it was a quiet opening until Koren cut in from the right and unleashed a powerful shot that goalkeeper Scott Loach did well to push away to safety. At the other end, John Eustace could have headed his side in front from a corner, but he didn''t get a clean connection on the ball and it dropped over the bar. The only other noteworthy incidents in the first half saw Kevin Kilbane and Watford''s Will Buckley pick up bookings for challenges on Lee Hodson and John Bostock respectively. Half Time: Tigers 0-0 Watford Kamil Zayatte needed treatment a couple of minutes after the break following a collision with Sordell but was fine to continue. Six minutes in, Koren went close with a dipping volley after Tom Cairney''s corner had been cleared to the edge of the box. Matt Duke made a routine save from Buckley before Martin Taylor headed Don Cowie''s free kick into the side-netting. City''s first change came on 56 minutes with Mark Cullen replacing Kilbane. Duke had to produce a good save to deny Danny Graham after a long ball had caused City problems, the keeper tipping the striker''s shot wide. Koren then went close for City when his cross flashed across the face of goal before Garcia and Nick Barmby came on to replace Bostock and Simpson. Garcia had a chance on 78 minutes when he met Barmby''s cross from the left, but he was off target with a header. Barmby was booked for a challenge on Adrian Mariappa two minutes later. Duke made another fine stop on 81 minutes, this time denying Watford substitute Jordan Mutch with a save low down to his right in what proved to be the last meaningful action of the game. Tigers (4-4-1-1) Matt Duke: Paul McShane, Kamil Zayatte, Liam Cooper, Andy Dawson: John Bostock (Garcia 69), Ian Ashbee [captain], Tom Cairney, Kevin Kilbane (Cullen 56): Robert Koren: Jay Simpson (Barmby 69). Subs: Mark Oxley, Nolberto Solano, Anthony Gardner, Will Atkinson, Richard Garcia, Nick Barmby, Mark Cullen. Bookings: Kilbane 45, Barmby 80. Watford (4-3-2-1) Scott Loach: Lee Hodson, Adrian Mariappa, Martin Taylor, Lloyd Doyley: Don Cowie, John Eustace [captain], Stephen McGinn (Walker 76): Danny Graham, Will Buckley (Mutch 59): Marvin Sordell (Deeney 59). Subs: Jonathan Bond, Josh Walker, Troy Deeney, Ross Jenkins, Dale Bennett, Jordon Mutch, Liam Henderson. Bookings: Buckley 45.