Prior to last week, you'd be remiss for showing any optimism towards Hull City. The Tigers had lost six of their last seven games and appeared lethargic as they shipped eighteen goals in the process. The hunt for Shota Arveladze's successor in the dugout had also drawn a blank with the odds on favourite, Pedro Martins, ultimately rejecting a career in East Yorkshire. This cocktail of low team morale and sluggish performances made the clubs upcoming fixtures against Blackpool and Rotherham appear forgone conclusions.
364 brave souls made the two and a half hour journey westward for the midweek clash against Blackpool with the consensus expecting that the visit would only end in defeat. Against the odds, Hull put in strong performance, leaving Bloomfield Road with all three points and an important boost in confidence. The 3-1 win saw Regan Slater, Greg Docherty and Ryan Longman all open their accounts for the season, showing the diversification of Hull's attack beyond their usual talisman, Oscar Estupinan. Longman's opening goal proved the most poignant as the 21 year old had been unjustly maligned by fans in previous games, with the Englishman's first half strike silencing the twitter critics and stadium abusers alike. A much needed victory against The Seasiders left those with a ticket to the weekends game against Rotherham quietly confident about their team's prospects on the road.
Greg Docherty Celebrates Scoring Against Blackpool (Hull City)
Unbeaten against The Millers in their last four matchups, Saturdays trip to South Yorkshire proved a vital opportunity for Andy Dawson's side to build upon the performance in midweek and put another tick in the win column. The sold out away allocation at the New York Stadium expected another strong performance from Hull side looking to build momentum. It's safe to say that when the referee called full time on the match, it was evident that the away sides performance had surpassed the prediction of even the most optimistic fan.
A thrilling 4-2 win for the Tigers, it was hard to criticise any man on the pitch wearing black and amber. Much as the win at Blackpool was characterised by strong contributions in the midfield, the victory at Rotherham was punctuated by a seasons best outing for Hull's fullbacks. Cyrus Christie and Jacob Greaves both scored their first goals for the Tigers during the match, with the latter hitting the back of the net for the first time in over 100 appearances for the East Yorkshire outfit. Second half strikes from a rejuvenated Ryan Longman and substitute Ozan Tufan topped off a season defining performance for the ambitious Hull side and put them clear of the relegation zone.
Whilst every Hull player deserved praise, Jacob Greaves was the rightful recipient of the vast majority of the post match plaudits. Captaining the side in the absence of Lewie Coyle, the 22 year old flourished in his role as a make shift left-back, putting up career best numbers on both ends of the pitch.
Traditionally playing in the centre of defence, any praise for Greaves is normally routed in his defensive stats. Saturday's game was no exception with a game high four tackles exemplifying the regimented outing for the Hull skipper. Greaves also put up season high numbers in regard to ball recoveries and interceptions, an impressive feat when considering the unfamiliar position he took up during the game.
Despite his defensive output, the display was overshadowed by the defender scoring his first goal in black and amber. Capitalising on a scramble in the Rotherham box, Greaves' first goal for Hull was more of a testament to the poor Millers' defence as opposed to the attacking prowess of the 22 year old. Despite the scrappy nature of his finish, Greaves' increased impact on the attacking end was not to be understated as he proved a constant thorn in the side of the Rotherham defence.
Jacob Greaves Celebrates his first goal for Hull City (Hull City)
Prior to the match, Greaves had only created two chances in the opening fifteen games of the season, a tally he was able to double during the game in the South Yorkshire. The creative output of the former Hull Young Player of the Year was best typified by Ryan Longman's 59th minute goal with Greaves' fingerprints all over the attack. Looking more like a seasoned winger than a stalwart centre-half, Greaves latched on to an inch perfect through ball from Jean Michaël Seri and played a first time pass across the box that Kevin De Bruyne would be proud of. Longman was there to put the ball past the helpless Rotherham goalkeeper, taking Hull's tally to three goals for the day and giving Greaves a first assist to add to his maiden goal.
What made Greaves' display impressive beyond his goal contributions was his comfort in his new role, playing as if he'd been a left back all his life. Greaves' opposite number, young winger Brooke Norton-Cuffy, suffered a torrid 90 minutes up against the Hull defender. The eighteen year old completed zero percent of his dribbles attempted and didn't win a single ground or aerial dual, highlighting the defensive expertise of the Tiger's captain.
Additionally, Greaves worked excellently with Regan Slater, who occupied the left midfield role and facilitated the fullbacks attacking output. The symbiotic relationship the two players had was clear as Slater was not afraid to drop back and allow Greaves to push forward. This culminated in a series of brilliant overlapping runs from the defender, causing problems for the Millers defence.
Greaves' display against Rotherham will surely have caught the eye of Hull's resident left backs Brandon Flemming and Callum Elder. Both players are returning from injury and will have looked upon Greaves' performance with approval. With Hull's injury crisis appearing to subside, Greaves may be shifted back into his natural central defensive role for upcoming fixtures. Despite this, the versatility of the defender as well as his qualities in attack will stick with him as Hull look to continue their good form.
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