Hull -vs- Ipswich - Report

Hull City will need to improve before Tuesday`s visit of Charlton Athletic if they are to record another three points.

Although the Tigers deserved the three points against Ipswich Town yesterday, they did so by riding their luck in the first forty-five minutes. For a team that doesn`t travel well, Ipswich settled quickly and were unlucky to see two efforts hit the post in the first twenty minutes, both with Myhill well beaten. Even when the Tigers took an underserved early lead, Ipswich continued to press but to no avail.

Former Hull target Alan Lee started up-front with former Tigers striker Jon Walters being given a right-wing role by manager Jim Magilton. Whilst Walters impressed against a struggling Andy Dawson, the former £700,000 target Alan Lee failed to show anything that warranted Brown`s persistent interest in the forward.

Phil Brown`s options up-front were limited after Caleb Folan suffered a reaction to his injury the day before the match. Dean Windass returned to lead the line alongside Jay-Jay Okocha whilst his former Bolton colleague Henrik Pedersen was handed his first league start of the season after appearances against Sheffield Wednesday and Chelsea.

The decision to start Pedersen on the left proved to be inspired as the Danish international netted twice in the first half. His first goal came via his head after a sublime cross from Jay-Jay Okocha following a well worked short corner with Dean Marney. The second, which was scored after forty minutes, saw Pedersen race through on goal after a clever pass by Dean Windass. Pedersen had time and space as he entered the box and he drove the ball strongly past Neil Alexander for his second of the match.

The Dane could have scored a third had he not panicked when the ball came to him at the far post. Instead of composing himself, Pedersen struck the ball high over the bar after good play by Garcia and Windass had opened up the opportunity.

Whilst Hull had taken a two goal lead, Ipswich must have wondered quite how they were behind. The Tigers looked shaky in defence and Okocha`s persistent losing of the ball in dangerous areas did not help the fragile defence. Fortunately, the end product was not there and a combination of Myhill and some last ditch defending kept Alan Lee and company out.

The game got worse for Ipswich as Hull City made it three on the stroke of half-time thanks to Wayne Brown`s first goal for the Tigers since his £450,000 move from Colchester United. Okocha was the supplier for the second time as his cross from another short corner was glanced in to the far corner by the head of Brown.

With the Tigers cruising, Ipswich replied immediately thanks to a twenty yard striker by Dan Harding. With a mass if Hull and Ipswich players crowded into the penalty area, Bo Myhill was left sightless as the shot flew past the blinded keeper.

In the second half, Phil Brown reacted to Ipswich`s dominance by slowing the game down. Immediately, the Tigers were in control and after Ipswich had caused them so many problems in the first forty-five minutes, the second half passed with no threat to Myhill`s goal. Instead, it was the Tigers who could have gone on and extended their lead.

City created scoring opportunities for Garcia and substitute Hughes but neither could find the goal that would have secure the victory. Instead, the Tigers were able to hold out comfortably for an impressive 3-1 score line against a team that had defeated Coventry City 4-1 the week before.

The three points were important for Brown not only to get back to winning ways at home but to secure a move in the right direction after last Saturday`s defeat at Sheffield Wednesday. The three points propelled the Tigers up the league to eleventh, two points off a play-off place before Tuesday`s difficult home game against Charlton Athletic who now sit second in the Championship table.

Henrik Pedersen - The Dane took his first start in the first-team well by netting twice in an important Hull City win.
The keeper was kept busy in the first-half as Ipswich dominated but he could do nothing about the goal after being un-sighted. In the second-half, Ipswich rarely tested the American keeper. The full-back produced another excellent display, but will he be at left-back against Charlton if Brown is successful with brining in his new defender? Dawson was run ragged by Jon Walters in the first-half but he reacted well in the second forty-five minutes to keep him quiet. Turner did well to make some last ditch tackles as it looked like Ipswich may make their early dominance count. There were a few dodgy moments early on for Brown but he grew as the game went on. Brown even managed to get forward to head in his first goal for Hull City. The Australian winger produced another good display even if he was quiet at times. The midfielder seems to be improving every game. The presence of Okocha alongside him seems to have improved the midfielder greatly. A quiet game from Marney where he did very little in the first-half. As the second forty-five minutes went on, the midfielder grew with confidence as he came into the game. The club's new left-winger showed his credentials by netting twice and he could have got more but for panicking. Hopefully this is the start of many for Pedersen. The midfielder was involved in two of the goals as he produced another brilliant display. However, he often lost the ball in a dangerous poition and he must be wary of this in future. The striker did well on his return and produced a great ball to set Pedersen free for the second goal. The striker made little impact but he never seems to have any luck when on the pitch. A brief game for Hughes who went close with a far post header that hit the side netting. Brought on late on to ensure the win was never in doubt.

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