Steve Bruce has achieved his first target after Hull City’s descent into the Sky Bet Championship. The manager says that he set out to lift the “doom and gloom” that enveloped the club after they were relegated and has succeeded, at least for the time being, by guiding them to second after five matches.
Hull have lost only once and the victory over Preston North End displayed some of the qualities that are essential for any team who intend to sustain a promotion campaign. Talent is not enough, as one of their most talented individuals has realised after fewer than 50 games in this division.
Moses Odubajo, the full back signed from Brentford in the summer, knows that it must be allied with the sort of energy and tenacity shown by Hull. Their football rarely flowed, but they remained disciplined and their workrate never dropped as they closed down Preston in every area of the pitch and sealed victory with goals from Abel Hernández and Curtis Davies.
Odubajo said: “It wasn’t the prettiest of games but it’s all about getting results. If you can beat a strong, quality side 2-0, it’s a good sign. We’re showing a lot of character and showed we don’t have to play at our best to get a result.
“There’s way more to come from us. Everything is hectic right now because of the transfer window, but once that closes you’ll see us knuckle down and gel as a group.”
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Negotiating the transfer deadline without losing too many key players was the second early-season objective set by Bruce, who is resigned to losing Nikica Jelavic but determined to keep Hernández, his £10 million Uruguay forward. Jelavic did not stay to watch the game after Bruce told him that he was not even among the substitutes. Bruce said: “There is no problem over him leaving the ground. I had a conversation with him, which was only right. How could he play when his head was elsewhere?”
Losing both Jelavic and Hernández is still a possibility, although it is not something that Odubajo wants to contemplate. He said: “It would be great to keep Abel. He will score goals in the Championship if we can help him.”
Hernández knew little about the one he did score in the 37th minute, however, as Neil Kilkenny’s goalline clearance struck him and rebounded over the line.
In contrast, Davies claimed a spectacular second goal when he volleyed in David Meyler’s 82nd-minute corner before continuing his run to celebrate with his daughter, Isla.
Preston’s season is still in first gear after promotion. They have won once in five games and scored only twice, with Joe Garner, the forward, still without a goal to add to the 27 that he managed last season.
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Their best chance fell to Alan Browne, who headed over shortly before Davies killed off Preston with his goal, but John Welsh, the midfielder, saw signs of progress against his former club.
He said: “We got here on merit and will keep going. There’s nothing to be scared of, because every player in the squad can play at this level.
“We passed it well and created one or two chances, but we have not been clinical. Hull were and, as you go up the leagues, that’s the difference.”
Teams
Hull City (4-4-2): A McGregor — M Odubajo, M Dawson, C Davies, A Robertson — A Elmohamady, D Meyler, M Diamé (sub: S Maloney, 70min), S Clucas, A Hernández (sub: S Aluko 70), C Akpom (sub: I Hayden, 83). Substitutes not used: E Jakupovic, A Bruce, T Huddlestone, G Luer. Booked: Odubajo, Akpom.
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Preston North End (4-4-1-1): J Pickford — T Clarke, P Huntingdon, B Wright, C Woods (sub: M Vermijl, 84) — J Welsh (sub: A Browne, 70), N Kilkenny, D Johnson, C Humphrey (sub: W Keane, 70) — P Gallagher, J Garner. Substitutes not used: C Kirkland, K Reid, J Brownhill, J Hugill. Booked: Welsh, Woods, Garner.
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