Hull City’s Nikica Jelavic deepens the blues of his old side Everton

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jan/01/hull-city-everton-premier-league-match-report

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A new year but the same old story for Roberto Martínez’s Everton, whose defensive woes leave them susceptible to being dragged into a Premier League relegation fight. A fourth consecutive defeat – and seventh in nine across all competitions – mean they are now just four points above the bottom three.

Hull drew to within two points of Martínez’s side after capitalising on indecision at the back from their opponents. First-half goals from Ahmed Elmohamady and the former Everton forward Nikica Jelavic settled the contest well before the visitors lost Antolín Alcaraz to a second booking late on. With fixtures against Manchester City and Chelsea and a Merseyside derby on the horizon, the pressure will soon go up a notch.

“I welcome that pressure,” retorted Martínez. “What I feel is we are not happy with our return of points. I know the quality that we have, the injuries we have and the second goal came from a new partnership between the keeper and defenders. “I will take responsibility. The players showed an incredible appetite, an incredible character to compete but the reality is that we are low in confidence. It is a tough period but the reality is that the second half of the season is an opportunity to get back our swagger and our enjoyment in our play.”

Hull rediscovered their own joie de vivre following 12 months of relegation form. Despite reaching the FA Cup final for the first time in their history, Steve Bruce’s team claimed only seven top-flight victories in 2014, while their record at the KC Stadium was even worse. But after only three successes in 18 attempts, they could not have chosen better opponents as first visitors for 2015.

Having shipped three goals apiece in road trips to Southampton and Newcastle, Martínez reverted to the three-at-the-back system he previously employed at Wigan. However, it was to calamitous effect, as Hull preyed on Gareth Barry’s uncertain display on the left side of Everton’s central defensive trio throughout the opening 45 minutes. There were less than three minutes on the clock when Barry felled Hull’s Uruguayan striker Abel Hernández half a yard into the Everton area, only for the referee Kevin Friend controversially to award the hosts a free-kick on its perimeter.

Jevavic’s effort flashed over the top. Hernández, looking much more like the £10m player who scored on his Premier League debut in September than the peripheral figure of the autumn months, was simply irresistible. “It’s no secret that he’s found it difficult. He’s played three games then had to go halfway around the world for international duty. He’s had a baby – not physically, himself – three or four weeks ago. But he has proved here what a good player he could be for us,” explained Bruce, who also confirmed an interest in signing another international striker, England’s Jermaine Defoe, during this month’s transfer window.

Hull have lost several leads this season but the half-time introduction of Romelu Lukaku and switching of Ross Barkley to a more progressive position failed to eat into what Bruce termed Hull’s “most convincing” performance of the season. The unlikely figure of Elmohamady headed the Yorkshire club into the lead after outjumping Leighton Baines at the far post. Then, two minutes before the break, Jelavic punished Barry for trying to play offside by keeping his composure to control Hernández’s overhead flick and lob over a hesitant Joel Robles.

Everton’s misery was compounded four minutes from time when Alcaraz walked for a contentious second yellow – an adjudged bodycheck on Jelavic.

By that stage, Hull had lost three of their own to serious-looking injuries as festive fatigue took its toll – Andy Robertson, Liam Rosenior and Gastón Ramírez all likely to be sidelined for some weeks.Man of the match Abel Hernández (Hull)