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Hull’s Mohamed Diamé and Nikica Jelavic sink limp Crystal Palace
Hull’s Mohamed Diamé and Nikica Jelavic sink limp Crystal Palace
(about 1 hour later)
Mohamed Diamé’s third goal in four matches and Nikica Jelavic’s fourth of the season handed Hull their first win since the opening day of the season over a lacklustre Crystal Palace side.
Steve Bruce eulogised about Mohamed Diamé’s impact at Hull after the deadline day signing’s third goal in four matches helped his side to victory over Crystal Palace.
The Senegal midfielder Diamé headed in Andy Robertson’s pinpoint cross on the hour mark, settling Hull just when it seemed their dominance would bring nothing more than a fourth draw of the campaign, before Jelavic secured the points with a clinical counterattack in the closing stages.
Bruce brought in Diamé to bolster the Hull midfield and with the Senegal international’s contract into its last year at West Ham, he cost just £3.5m. That already seems a bargain after a debut goal against his former employers, a thunderbolt against Newcastle and the crucial headed opener in this win.
The scoring exploits of both men are proving increasingly crucial to Hull’s prospects, the £3.5m signing Diamé already showing his worth and Jelavic thriving in his first full season at the KC Stadium.
Bruce admits he was delighted to take advantage of uncertainty over his future in east London. “I don’t think it was the case West Ham didn’t want him but I think everybody has to make a decision when there’s 10 months left on your contract,” said Bruce. “Will you give him a new contract or are you going to cash in? West Ham obviously cashed in.
Just as pleasing to the Hull manager Steve Bruce will be his side’s clean sheet, also a first since that 1-0 success at QPR on the opening day. Bruce’s side had shipped 10 goals in their previous four league matches, and another three in the Capital One Cup loss at West Brom, prompting a return to last season’s preferred 3-5-2.
“We are delighted to have brought him in. He’s got a right foot, a left foot and now he’s scored with a header. He’s not quite the complete midfielder but he’s big, he’s strong, he’s athletic, he handles the ball well, he’s good in the air, he’s got two good feet.”
That meant James Chester was back at the heart of defence and Hull were certainly tighter for the tactical switch. It also allowed the wing-backs Ahmed Elmohamady and Robertson greater freedom to attack and their energy on the flanks was a constant thorn in Palace’s side.
While Diamé has already gone a long way to paying back the relatively modest transfer fee, Bruce revealed he has plenty more to make up for too. Diamé scored twice against Sunderland during Bruce’s time on Wearside and played in the Wigan win that ultimately led to his dismissal.
The away side, having registered back-to-back wins came back to earth with a bump and had to wait 74 minutes for their first shot on goal.
“I think he got me the sack when I was at Sunderland actually, if I’m being honest,” said Bruce. “I first came across him when he was at Wigan and blasted one in against us.”
Hull almost caught their opponents cold inside 90 seconds, Tom Huddlestone releasing Elmohamady with a crossfield pass and the Egyptian finding Jelavic in the middle but the striker’s looping header was too high.
Despite dominating for long periods against Palace, with Ahmed Elmohamady and Andy Robertson a permanent threat on the flanks, the pressure did not tell until the 60th minute.
Elmohamady then invited Palace on at the other end, passing straight to Fraizer Campbell who was bodychecked by Chester as he approached the area. Mile Jedinak fancied the free-kick but could not find the target.
Tom Huddlestone and Abel Hernández had driven Hull forward and when the ball broke for Robertson he curled a wonderful cross into the six-yard box where Diamé scored with a crisp header.
Palace were forced into an early change when Huddlestone’s shot was blocked by Scott Dann, who injured his ankle in the process and had to be replaced by Adrian Mariappa.
City only made the game safe in the 89th minute when Jake Livermore’s perfect through ball found Nikica Jelavic. The Croat finished calmly to register his fourth of the season and ensure Hull’s first win since the opening day defeat of Queens Park Rangers.
Hull edged the remainder of the half, though neither side showed much finesse in the final third. Jason Puncheon and Yannick Bolasie both worried Hull with their direct running but the back three largely held up well.
For Palace there was less to cheer, with a curiously flat performance hardly befitting a side chasing a third successive victory. Yet their manager, Neil Warnock, used his post-match press conference as a platform to fight Fraizer Campbell’s corner. A one-time Hull loanee, he was booed relentlessly by the home fans having twice turned down a permanent move.
For the home side, there was a clear plan to target the full-backs, with Huddlestone’s distribution proving key. Elmohamady harassed Joel Ward on the right, beating his man on several occasions as he searched for Abel Hernández and Jelavic in the centre. On the opposite flank Robertson was pouring forward and twice blazed wide having found room to shoot.
But Warnock was more annoyed at a perceived lack of consistency from the referee, Mike Dean. “I had to take Fraizer Campbell off because he got a silly booking but in the first minute he was body-checked, which should have been a yellow card,” he said.
Palace held out until the break, though not before Diamé and Hernández had spurned decent openings. Diamé got his angles wrong, dragging across goal after a one-two with Hernández, and with the last attack of the half, the Uruguayan found himself perfectly placed to stroke home Robertson’s cutback only to flash his first-time effort past the post.
“Then just before half-time, there’s an elbow from [Michael] Dawson – I’ve seen red cards for less than that. The referee doesn’t see that but he sees all the little niggles that poor old Fraizer gets booked for.
Palace began the second half with greater intent but found themselves forced back as Hull responded in kind.
“Referees should be in a position to see elbows like that and know it’s not an accident. It’s dangerous play. They need to be educated better, even though he’s one of our better refs.”
First Jelavic drilled a free-kick into the wall after more good work by Robertson then Elmohamady bustled past two men on the right and pulled the ball back to the edge of the area.
Unfortunately for City Curtis Davies was the man arriving and the defender cleared the crossbar by 10 yards.
But the pressure finally told on 60 minutes.
Huddlestone and Hernández had driven Hull forward and when the ball broke for Robertson he curled a wonderful cross into the six-yard box where Diamé scored with a crisp header.
Neil Warnock’s side were forced into action and finally made the 39-year-old goalkeeper Steve Harper work on his return in place of the injured Allan McGregor. Bolasie unleashed a powerful strike from 30 yards and forced a smart reaction save as Harper palmed over.
But by committing men forward Palace were increasingly open at the back and Jake Livermore sliced them in two with a superb through ball for Jelavic in the 89th minute. The Croatia striker calmly evaded Martin Kelly then deposited his shot into the far corner.
