Adkin Tips Hat To Hull City Professional Showing Against Brentford

16th December 2018

Tigers boss lauds his charges after a Fraizer Campbell brace lifted them to a 2-0 victory and up to 17th on the EFL Championship standings

Hull City FC’s Kamil Grosicki in action against Brendtford FC at the KCOM Stadium on Saturday, December 15, 2018. PHOTO/Hull City FC
Hull City FC’s Kamil Grosicki in action against Brendtford FC at the KCOM Stadium on Saturday, December 15, 2018. PHOTO/Hull City FC
SUMMARY
  • Fraizer Campbell scored both goals in the opening 21 minutes at the KCOM Stadium before a resolute defensive display saw the Tigers to an important three points and made it four games unbeaten
  • Ondrej Mazuch replaced the injured Jordy de Wijs, while Stephen Kingsley returned from injury to take the place of Brandon Fleming who dropped to the bench
  • Brentford enjoyed plenty of possession in the latter stages but could find no way through a resolute home defence as the Tigers extended their unbeaten run to four games

HULL, England- Nigel Adkins praised the professional nature of his side’s display following saturday’s 2-0 victory over Brentford in the EFL Championship.

Fraizer Campbell scored both goals in the opening 21 minutes at the KCOM Stadium before a resolute defensive display saw the Tigers to an important three points and made it four games unbeaten.

“We knew it was going to be a challenging game but we’ve got a result and kept the momentum going,” said Adkins.

“The win means we have gone above Brentford in the table and Fraizer Campbell has scored two good goals. 

“That put us in a position to win the game and, against one of the best possession-based sides in the division, David Marshall has only had one save to make,” the Tigers boss noted.

Adkins made two changes following the draw at Millwall a week earlier.

Ondrej Mazuch replaced the injured Jordy de Wijs, while Stephen Kingsley returned from injury to take the place of Brandon Fleming who dropped to the bench.

Brentford went close early on after the Tigers had given possession away deep in their own half, Mohamed Benrahma curling an effort just wide. 

Kamohelo Mokotjo then saw a shot deflect past Marshall’s right-hand upright as the visitors knocked the ball around nicely in the opening minutes.

However, it was the Tigers who took a 12th-minute lead. 

A real up-and-under from Todd Kane caused chaos in the Brentford defence and a ball that was only partially cleared was knocked back in intelligently by Markus Henriksen for Kamil Grosicki, and although he miss-hit his volley there was enough on it for it to get past goalkeeper Daniel Bentley and into the path of Campbell who finished from close range.

Very professional

Jackson Irvine headed a difficult chance over at the near post after being found by a Kane free kick but it would soon be 2-0 to the home side as Grosicki and Campbell combined again with 21 minutes gone. 

This time the Polish international got the better of Henrik Dalsgaard out wide before cutting inside and shooting low from the edge of the box. His effort was pushed away by Bentley, but Campbell was following up again to apply a simple finish.

Campbell went looking for a first half hat-trick when Daniel Batty’s cross found him 12 yards out but a volley went well wide before Marshall made a decent save to deny Nico Yennaris at the other end.

 “I thought we were very professional in the second half to see the game out. Ondrej Mazuch has played his first full game for eight months and Stephen Kingsley has come back in after six or seven weeks out.

“During the week we worked on counter-attacking and we didn’t do it anywhere near as much as I wanted in the second half but we’ve got the three points,” Adkins added.

“Sometimes we’ve played good football this season and not got the results. This was a bit different and we’ve defended well to get the result. The whole squad has contributed, we’re seeing Fraizer in good form and it’s a good three points.

“We’ve got a lot of injuries at the moment, particularly in defence, so to keep a clean sheet was pleasing. All being well, we’ll have players coming back to fitness for the festive period as well. Brentford are an excellent side,” the Hull boss noted. 

Will Keane then came on in place of Campbell before a final change saw Brandon Fleming come on for Batty.

Brentford enjoyed plenty of possession in the latter stages but could find no way through a resolute home defence as the Tigers extended their unbeaten run to four games.

SQUAD

Hull City: David Marshall, Todd Kane, Ondrej Mazuch, Tommy Elphick, Stephen Kingsley, Daniel Batty (Brandon Fleming 89), Markus Henriksen, Jarrod Bowen, Jackson Irvine, Kamil Grosicki (Kevin Stewart 73), Fraizer Campbell (Will Keane 80).

Subs Not Used: George Long, Nouha Dicko, Robbie McKenzie, Chris Martin.