Pre-match preamble
I'm trying not to think of this as a big game. It's just one game, and it ticks off one of our games in hand – and theirs too (a rearranged match due to the Carabao Cup schedule). In the reverse fixture in November, we beat them by two goals to nil. Hull coach Sergej Jakirović has apparently insisted his team are "not afraid" of Ipswich Town heading into tonight's game.
Well, we're not scared of Tigers either.
They're called the Tigers because their kit colours are predominantly amber and black. They played initially on a rugby ground, then a cricket pitch, before getting a dedicated stadium in 1906 at Anlaby Road.
Hull FC and Hull Kingston Rovers are the rugby clubs. Hull City is the football team.
Hull City Association Football Club was founded in 1904. Football was slower to cement its place in Hull because of the popularity of rugby league.
A bonus for the Tigers this evening is the return of midfielder Matt Crooks after seven matches out with injury. Unfortunately for us, Philogene and Young are still on the injury list.
On the train
Hopped on an early evening commuter train from Liverpool Street, so found myself cheek by jowl with a whole bunch of people near the doors, including a man and his son from Berkshire who travel to all home and away games. Dedication.
First half
The opening minutes were fairly even, with the ball going from end to end and back again. O'Shea cut out a cross from Koumas and broke quickly for Town, but Egeli's shot was deflected behind for a corner.
In a fast move from Town on the 18th minute, a Núñez pass through to Taylor saw his shot go just wide of the post from the edge of the box.
Ten minutes later, Taylor picked up the ball on the wing and crossed to Hirst, but his quick shot went straight to Pandur.
There was quite a lot of time-wasting by Hull players, especially the goalkeeper, who eventually received a yellow card for his efforts – or more accurately, his inaction.
HT: Ipswich 0 – 0 Hull City
Second half
Town started the second half well, and it was more of the same, with chances not quite being converted. A few "oooh" moments.
Hull defended well with bodies in the box, forcing Núñez to shoot from distance over the bar. These blocking tactics nullified a couple of free kicks from promising positions.
Hull were pressing more too, but lacked the finishing touch, exemplified by Millar running free down the wing before finishing with a shot happily over the bar around the hour mark.
The breakthrough came on 71 minutes from a cleared corner. Mehmeti carried it into the box, but the congestion forced the ball out to Davis, who laid it off to Matusiwa on the edge of the area. He fired a fizzing shot into the right-hand corner of the goal, going in millimetres under the bar. Ecstasy, unsurprisingly, reigned supreme for a few minutes.
Then came the scrap to keep the advantage or kill the game off, with a few nervous moments. Town should have had a second not long after, when a pass from Hirst to Burns found its way to Clarke in front of goal. We were already cheering when Pandur made the save of the century, diving right across the goalmouth.
As the minutes ticked by, we all held our breath as Hull battled strongly for an equaliser.
Why is it that whenever we're leading by only one goal, the opposing team win a corner in the last minute of stoppage time? More breath-holding moments – and we weathered it again. Phew.
FT: Ipswich 1 – 0 Hull City
Men of the match
Walton had little to do – pity about the yellow card when he played them at their own game in the dying minutes, but he took that one for the team. Pleased to see Hirst definitely up his game here. Núñez and Kipre were standouts for me. Clarke had to do battle with three close defenders for much of the game, which is recognition of his talent, if deeply annoying.
MotM: Azor Matusiwa. Good in every aspect of play, as always, and a brilliant goal.
Post-match ponderings
A low muttering was heard whilst we waited for the game to start. I love the way supporters – including me – all scrutinise the team sheet and comment on who should be playing and who should be on the bench. Reorganising the team into many different line-ups is a mandatory exercise. Everyone's an expert these days.
Some remarked that attendance was down a little, but I don't find that surprising. Three games – plus travel, parking and so on – in one week comes at a cost, especially for families, though I believe there were discounted tickets for this match. A thoughtful move by the club, especially following five away games. An evening kick-off can also be difficult for those with work and school in the morning, exacerbated by transport issues. It was also showing on Sky TV, and last but hopefully by no means least, many teenagers are in the throes of exams at the moment. So all things considered, over 26,000 is a goodly number.
Not a pretty game like Saturday's, but hard fought with many chances and "oh so nearly" goals. Pandur's save from Jack Clarke's shot was unbelievable – he was definitely their man of the match.
Hull weren't as good as I expected, and I found their time-wasting tactics from the starting whistle a little strange. Some said they were playing for a draw, but I think they were simply trying to slow the whole game down and frustrate our players. They certainly frustrated the heck out of us in the crowd. It was an odd game plan, because once we had scored, they very obviously upped the ante – and who knows what the outcome would have been if they had done that from the start.
Our formation seemed wrong for a while, with a top-heavy midfield and no one running wide, but Kieran's substitutions at 57 minutes – Davis and Burns – balanced the field nicely. The game picked up from then on and led to the blistering goal from Matusiwa on 71 minutes. Job done.
On the train
I was reminiscing about players of the past with "big Dave with the leg tattoo" (his description) and his friend, just back from the US, who shall remain nameless unless his agent approves. The train was full, and there was a very happy vibe.
Everyone agreed it was a nervy watch, but a win is a win.
I was very kindly given a lift home by Dave, Matt and Rob – many thanks, guys. A neighbour had found my keys in the car park, where I must have dropped them rushing out for the match. Thankfully, he knew they were mine because of the Ipswich Town key fob – so many thanks to Jack, and to Town Merch.
The Tigers proved toothless – roll on Saturday. Hopefully, Town are on a roll too. A chap on the train took up the mantra: "We need a striker."
"No, we don't," I said. "We've got loads."
