West Bromwich Albion 3 - Hull City 2

Brendan Clegg:

I thought Hull were a decent side - strong, tactically decent, played some nice stuff and were the better team until we scored.

We on the other hand played the first half like it was a friendly.

Harper strolled around without purpose, too many players tried to over complicate things and Holgate didn’t want to run beyond the halfway line. Add that to the injuries and subs and the game didn’t get going.

But our first was fantastic - Gayle brilliantly made an average pass a good one by taking on his chest before working with Holgate to get Tosin space to cross. Gibbs, having a great half, rifled home on the volley. He’s definitely our 2nd best finisher at the club and I’m convinced he’d get 20 goals at this level if he played up front.

2nd half we were sloppy and absent in midfield before Hull took the lead through what looked like 2 keeper errors to me.

In fairness to Shan he made the right subs - getting pace onto the pitch with Phillips through the middle and Murphy up front with Gayle.

Brunt swung ol’ reliable from a corner for Gayle to head home and from then on we looked like we might score with every attack - Murphy’s pace a real problem even if he was still a bit lightweight. His hammered cross to Gayle won it.

I can see why Shan managed the squad - we need our best 11 for the play-offs.

• SJ - 4 Poor kicking and a couple of soft looking goals. We might need a new goalie whatever league we’re in next season.
• Daws - 7 Best performance in a while. Up for the battle.
• Bartley- 6 Not always the best but committed and unquestionably better when playing no nonsense football.
• Hegazi - Didn’t want to come off but he’s essential in big games
• Holgate - 6 Played in first gear too often but has bags in the locker and stepped up late on.
• Harper - 5 Really disappointing because we know he has something. Not enough effort.
• Brunt - 7 Keeps showing that fight and the wand still has magic in it.
• Johansen - 6 Cant fault his effort put quality and decisions are really poor, like the shot that went for a throw. If he doesn’t win the first ball his lack of speed takes him out of the game. It really is AJ 2.0
• Gibbs - 8 So good on the ball, great goal, some great tackles. Left 2 on 1 for their first but should’ve closed down. A top flight player.
• HRK - 6 Some decent moments but nothing quite came off.
• Gayle - 8 Brilliant performance. Ran the channels and in behind, dropped deep to link play like Kevin Phillips used to, tracked back, held it up, scored two goals and when HRK went off won most balls as a target man. Sign him up!

• Tosin - 6 Solid enough. Better keeping it simple.
• Phillips- 7 Gave us drive, pace and power.
• Murphy- 6 Very effective on the shoulder of the last man with 20 to go. An option we should try again next game.