City go close but are held by Bournemouth

SO CLOSE: Grant McCann shows how close City came to breaking the deadlock against Bournemouth. Picture by Hull City

Hull City 0-0 Bournemouth

Sky Bet Championship

By Simon Bristow

Only the woodwork prevented Hull City from picking up a much-needed win against Bournemouth at the MKM Stadium on Saturday, but the goalless draw still ends a run of three consecutive defeats for the Tigers in the Sky Bet Championship.

It was the tireless midfielder Greg Docherty who flashed a header against the crossbar in the 53rd minute, latching onto a smart cross from Captain Lewie Coyle on the right.

Substitute Randell Williams later curled a left-foot shot just wide from the edge of the box in the 88th minute, causing gasps from the City fans, but no cheers as the run of games without scoring now extends to four.

New signing Tyler Smith nearly made a dream start to his City career, but the former Sheffield United striker saw his close-range shot deflected over the bar when a chance suddenly presented itself inside two minutes.

Smith, who was making his debut just a day after joining the club, began brightly and pounced on a loose Bournemouth pass at the back in the first minute to start a City attack.

He showed plenty of willing, running into wide areas despite being signed as an “on-the-shoulder” forward. He was also denied after another close-range chance later on.

Smith impressed on his first outing in a City shirt and got an ovation from the fans when he was substituted on 81 minutes after beginning to tire. His replacement, Josh Hinds, was also making his debut.

IMPRESSIVE DEBUT: Tyler Smith. Picture by Hull City

Smith had clearly done enough to please his new manager, with City boss Grant McCann telling the post-match press conference “the defender got a toe on it” in relation to his early chance, and otherwise praising his “fluid movement”.

McCann described the Tigers defence as “excellent”, and praised their shape and discipline in withstanding the threat of one of the division’s fancied teams.

Manchester United loanee Di’Shon Bernard was a rock in the centre of defence, and goalkeeper Matt Ingram twice showed his worth with point-blank saves in the first half; although one was the result of his own error in distribution.

McCann made three changes from the Fulham game, with Tom Huddlestone and Ryan Longman also starting in front of a 10,199 crowd.

City were quickest out of the blocks, pushing Bournemouth back down both wings, and with Huddlestone, as ever, imperious in midfield.

Manchester City loanee Matt Smith and Huddlestone look to be forming a formidable partnership in the centre of midfield, while Docherty became more influential as the game went on.

After 12 minutes, City’s Keane Lewis-Potter was bundled over outside the area. He took the free-kick himself but curled it up and over.

DEFENSIVE ROCKS: Di’Shon Bernard, left, and Jacob Greaves. Picture by Hull City

Scott Parker’s Cherries did not have much of the ball for the first half-hour, although leggy winger David Brooks looked dangerous for them down the right when they did.

Ingram again saved smartly from close range after 31 minutes, using his legs to stop a firm shot. Coyle then put his body on the line to block bravely when a shot came rapidly in from the rebound of Ingram’s save, and briefly needed treatment afterwards.

This was a turning point in the first-half, with Bournemouth having the better of it after that.

Bournemouth’s Jack Stacey was booked in stoppage time at the end of the half for tripping Lewis-Potter after a sharp turn by the City youngster.

The visitors started the second-half where they left off, with Emiliano Marcondes passing low right across City’s six yard box, but the ball evaded everybody.

Marcondes should have scored for Bournemouth in the 67th minute, but blazed a left-footed shot over from close range after a smart cross from Jordan Zemura.

Williams had replaced Longman after 58 minutes, and was causing all sorts of problems with his movement and physique, but could just not get enough bend on his fine effort at the death to make himself the hero.

City now go into the international break with the chance of getting injured players fit again, although McCann said Josh Magennis had suffered a hip problem late this week that was likely to rule him out of Northern Ireland duty.