Hull City thread
- this might require a revision of the established laws of 'reality'
Heres a good brief article about the clubs lining up for promotion and the playoffs - not sure if you've seen it.
They asked a BBC journo who supported each club their thoughts : http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7286488.stm
But here is the Hull City section for you....
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Will you go up? And how?
We still have a good chance of
automatic promotion but, if I am realistic, we will end up in the
play-offs. From there it is a bit of a lottery but we are a hard team
to beat with a good away record. I therefore think we'll make the final
- and then to dream...
What will promotion mean?
Promotion was the impossible dream
only seven years ago when we were locked out of Boothferry Park and
threatened with extinction. Now we have as good a chance as we have
ever had in our history to reach the top flight and finally lose that
tag of being the biggest city in Europe never to have had a top league
football team. It means respect for the club but also it means a bigger
spotlight on the city of Hull and some positive attention.
What has got you into this position?
It has been a steady
ascent. The chairman and manager have lifted the club steadily into
this position without getting too many people too excited too early and
putting the pressure on. Manager Phil Brown has built a team that does
not pin its hopes on just one or two players being in form - this is an
archetypal team effort.
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We just have to maintain our momentum. We are already in a play-off position so it is about staying focused. I think the experienced players in the squad, plus the manager and his assistants, will ensure that happens.
How would you describe your team's style of play?
Everyone
works and covers for each other. Yet, that is not to say we do not have
a certain flair - in games this season I have seen some of the best
football I have witnessed in 40-odd years as a City supporter.
Is your club ready for the Premier League on and off the pitch?
Is
any club really ready for the Premier League? Off the pitch it will be
a whole new experience for Hull City, with the media attention, but I
do not think there are many clubs around better run than Hull at the
moment. There needs to be investment in players but I understand there
is money so let's just get there and see what happens.
Watford striker Darius Henderson missed his second penalty in five days in a goalless draw with Stoke which enabled the Potters to climb to the top of the Coca-Cola Championship.
<!-- new alias = AUS_england_eng2_story_300x250 --><!-- new key = story;kvpage=story;kvcc=AUS;kvsection=england;kvleague=eng2;kvaid=516929;grp=6687702 --><!-- Tag // Tag for network 605: ESPN TN // Website: ESPN SC Keyword Site // Page: All // Placement: 300 X 250 (1181107) -->Henderson had seen a spot-kick saved in the 0-0 draw at leaders Bristol City on Tuesday night and was this time denied by Potters goalkeeper Carlo Nash, after referee Rob Styles had harshly penalised captain Andy Griffin.
Watford had earlier been were reduced to 10 men at Vicarage Road, captain John Eustace shown a red card against his old club for a clumsy challenge on Richard Cresswell.
Stoke moved ahead of Bristol City on goal difference, after Gary Johnson's side slipped to a 2-1 home defeat to Plymouth.
Rory Fallon (49, 59) struck twice to give Argyle a two-goal lead. Lee Trundle converted a 74th-minute penalty to pull a goal back - but despite some late pressure, the visitors held on.
Steve Howard scored a second-half hat-trick to help relegation strugglers Leicester claim a 4-1 win over 10-man West Brom at The Hawthorns.
Tony Mowbray's side took the lead through Robert Koren in the 22nd minute, but the game turned after Luke Moore was shown a red card in the 35th minute for violent conduct.
Gareth McAuley equalised three minutes later, and Howard put the Foxes ahead with a 59th-minute penalty before he netted again in the 79th and 86th minutes.
Ipswich boosted their hopes of making the play-offs with a 2-0 win over Charlton, who slipped to ninth, after goals from Owen Garvan (20) and Danny Haynes (53).
Hull's play-off challenge remained on track as they thumped lacklustre Southampton 5-0 at the KC Stadium.
Fraizer Campbell broke the deadlock in the seventh minute, but the Tigers had to wait until the 55th for the second from Henrik Pedersen.
The floodgates then opened - and Michael Turner (57), Dean Marney (68) and Bryan Hughes (90) were all able to get on the scoresheet.
Tom Soares (46) and James Scowcroft (83) both netted to give Crystal Palace a 2-0 win over Barnsley which left them a point outside the play-off zone.
Wolves kept their play-off dreams alive with a 3-1 win over fellow hopefuls Burnley at Turf Moor.
Seyi Olofinjana (14), Michael Gray (16) and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (56) had given Mick McCarthy's side a three-goal cushion - before Ade Akinbiyi's 76th-minute consolation strike.
Cardiff striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was sent of, but Paul Parry's 11th-minute strike ensured his side left struggling Colchester with a point after the home side failed to add to Johnnie Jackson's 76th-minute equaliser.
QPR claimed a 3-1 win over Sc**thorpe at Loftus Road - leaving the visitors six points adrift of safety.
Grant McCann gave the Iron the lead in the eighth minute. But Martin Rowlands equalised from the penalty spot, before Patrick Agyemang (79) and Rowan Vine (90) made the points safe.
Billy Sharp (52) and Matthew Kilgallon (56) gave Sheffield United a 2-0 win over Norwich at Bramall Lane.
Coventry's relegation battle with Sheffield Wednesday finished 0-0 - while in the day's early kick-off, the Lancashire derby between Blackpool and Preston, also finished goalless.
- me and toffeeman could do with the company - though there's always a few champioship fans like you and the Col u boys that'll post, but you are still supporting the wrong team 
)
buit they have 2 games in hand over us
The coolest Hull City kit!
have fun