HULL CITY 0-1 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City kept up their unbeaten run at the Kingston Communications Stadium with a late goal from Kevin Thornton.
On a cloudy but warmish day at the impressive KC Stadium with it's spacious car park and training pitch next door, Micky Adams gave a debut to new signing and a player he hopes will replace Gary McSheffrey in Kevin Kyle.
The Scottish international wearing the number ten shirt replaced Dele Adebola, Michael Doyle came back in for Frankie El Idrissi who has left the club after only being offered a month's contract.
Also back was Robert Page for the first time this season in place of Andy Whing as City started with three at the back.
It was obvious to see why both sides were in the league positions that they started the game, in what was a very forgettable first half.
Kevin Kyle did well to win the few headers that came his way but with City still giving the ball away in midfield, he was left to chase lost causes with his partner up front Stern John often too far away to get to his knock downs.
The City support which numbered around the 500 mark was in fine voice. There was a new song for Marcus Hall.chants about hating Rugby League and even a couple of Two Tone songs in the repertoire.
Hull had all the corners in the first period,they won one in the second minute and the next in the 25th minute thanks to Chris Birchall not being able to keep the ball in play,something he struggled with in the opening period.
Three more corners were won by Phil Parkinson's side and in the 38th minute,the 16,145 crowd witnessed the miss of the season so far.
Andy Marshall spilled the ball to the feet of Jon Parkin. The striker was no more than five foot out of goal. Marshall could only watch as the portly striker stroked the ball wide of the far post. Somehow the referee Mr Swarbrick awarded a corner. As the ball touched nobody as it comically went past the post,we assumed that the flag kick was given as a sympathy vote.
Deep in stoppage time,Stern John had City's first decent shot on goal but it was an easy save for Boaz Myhill.
More hit and hope football continued as the second half commenced.
A 57th minute free kick was wasted by the out of sorts Colin Cameron who was substituted three minutes later by Dele Adebola.
Also introduced at the same time was Kevin Thornton who came on for Stern John.
This change was the City fans had ordered. Kyle, whose performance was reminiscent of Keith Houchen when he first joined the Sky Blues, looked better playing with Adebola.
The striker grew stronger and turned in the 69th minute to blast a shot forcing Myhill to dive to his left to push the ball round for a corner.
Kevin Thornton picked up a caution for a trip and won a 79th minute corner.
Five minutes later,the young Irishman gave the Sky Blues what had looked an unlikely victory. Receiving the ball from an Adebola pass, Thornton went down the left, cut inside the area and drilled the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
He raced to celebrate his first ever first team goal with the jubilant City fans,kissing his badge before making his way back on to the field of play.
That was that. Hull were beaten and City headed back down the M62,M18 and M1 with their first away win of the season.
HT HCFC 0-0 CCFC
FT HCFC 0-1 CCFC
ATT 16,145
Goals Kevin Thornton (84)
Booked Thornton,Kyle
Team
Marshall,Page,Heath,Hall,Ward,Doyle (Hutchison 93),Cameron (Adebola 60), Hughes, Birchall, Kyle,John (Thornton 60) SNU Whing, Osbourne
Hull
Myhil,Dawson,Turner,Collins,Livermore,Fagan,France,Ricketts,
Coventry City kept up their unbeaten run at the Kingston Communications Stadium with a late goal from Kevin Thornton.
On a cloudy but warmish day at the impressive KC Stadium with it's spacious car park and training pitch next door, Micky Adams gave a debut to new signing and a player he hopes will replace Gary McSheffrey in Kevin Kyle.
The Scottish international wearing the number ten shirt replaced Dele Adebola, Michael Doyle came back in for Frankie El Idrissi who has left the club after only being offered a month's contract.
Also back was Robert Page for the first time this season in place of Andy Whing as City started with three at the back.
It was obvious to see why both sides were in the league positions that they started the game, in what was a very forgettable first half.
Kevin Kyle did well to win the few headers that came his way but with City still giving the ball away in midfield, he was left to chase lost causes with his partner up front Stern John often too far away to get to his knock downs.
The City support which numbered around the 500 mark was in fine voice. There was a new song for Marcus Hall.chants about hating Rugby League and even a couple of Two Tone songs in the repertoire.
Hull had all the corners in the first period,they won one in the second minute and the next in the 25th minute thanks to Chris Birchall not being able to keep the ball in play,something he struggled with in the opening period.
Three more corners were won by Phil Parkinson's side and in the 38th minute,the 16,145 crowd witnessed the miss of the season so far.
Andy Marshall spilled the ball to the feet of Jon Parkin. The striker was no more than five foot out of goal. Marshall could only watch as the portly striker stroked the ball wide of the far post. Somehow the referee Mr Swarbrick awarded a corner. As the ball touched nobody as it comically went past the post,we assumed that the flag kick was given as a sympathy vote.
Deep in stoppage time,Stern John had City's first decent shot on goal but it was an easy save for Boaz Myhill.
More hit and hope football continued as the second half commenced.
A 57th minute free kick was wasted by the out of sorts Colin Cameron who was substituted three minutes later by Dele Adebola.
Also introduced at the same time was Kevin Thornton who came on for Stern John.
This change was the City fans had ordered. Kyle, whose performance was reminiscent of Keith Houchen when he first joined the Sky Blues, looked better playing with Adebola.
The striker grew stronger and turned in the 69th minute to blast a shot forcing Myhill to dive to his left to push the ball round for a corner.
Kevin Thornton picked up a caution for a trip and won a 79th minute corner.
Five minutes later,the young Irishman gave the Sky Blues what had looked an unlikely victory. Receiving the ball from an Adebola pass, Thornton went down the left, cut inside the area and drilled the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
He raced to celebrate his first ever first team goal with the jubilant City fans,kissing his badge before making his way back on to the field of play.
That was that. Hull were beaten and City headed back down the M62,M18 and M1 with their first away win of the season.
HT HCFC 0-0 CCFC
FT HCFC 0-1 CCFC
ATT 16,145
Goals Kevin Thornton (84)
Booked Thornton,Kyle
Team
Marshall,Page,Heath,Hall,Ward,Doyle (Hutchison 93),Cameron (Adebola 60), Hughes, Birchall, Kyle,John (Thornton 60) SNU Whing, Osbourne
Hull
Myhil,Dawson,Turner,Collins,Livermore,Fagan,France,Ricketts,
Marney, Parkin (Burgess 65), Duffy (Barmby 65) SNU Duke,Welsh,Thelwell