Away Day Wiz Diaries #8 (Hull City)

To Hull and Back with the Wiz.

Alan Pickard

To Hull and Back…

Well, what else did you think I was going to title this piece? Sometimes this shizzle just writes itself: To Hull and back (with three points in the bag). 

Hull has been a rather happy hunting ground for us in the past few seasons, hasn't it? Ever since the tennis ball and whistle protest, which I'm fairly convinced I've still got tinnitus from, we'd been there and beat them 3-0 in 2019, 3-1 in 2021 and 2-0 in 2022.

Hopes were high as the coach set off at 4 pm to head to Walton Street Club next to the ground. Of all the things I didn't expect to be offered was some Romanian home brew, so that's worth a mention. I declined, not least because it stunk like it had been brewed in 1937. Wavy stuff. 

Have you ever been to Hull? Save yourself the hassle, there's not a lot to write home about, there's a big bridge, a big aquarium, and the football ground. That's about it, though a special mention must go to Jonny Toyne’s favourite ever boozer, The Hull Cheese. So, instead of a cultural review, here's where I think we're at as a side:

• The Keeper: he's good him. You can tell that the defence trusts him 

• The back four: They're good them, we don't look like we're gonna concede many all of a sudden.

• The two in the middle: I really like both of them, they complement each other really well.

• The three slightly further forward: They're the difference, at this level, nobody has anything as good.

• Him up top: without him, the three behind him can't do what they do, good player.

Bloody hell, we've built a good team there, with a bit of Del Boy style wheeling and dealing. And the thing is, I think we'll get better with time. 

What was I talking about? Oh Hull. Yeah. A few pints in the Walton Street Club and a short walk over the car park to the ground which is a tidy new-style bowl stadium.

I don't mind this ground you know. Think its design is actually quite nice. I do like a corner away end too. It helps get the atmosphere going. And boy, did it get going in the second ayfe.

A brief mention for Hull's food. Waffle fries topped with pulled pork and cheese. There were Gyros and fries, dirty fries, and a huge tray of Chicken tenders and fries. That Kingstone press fruit cider isn’t bad either. And I'm a sucker for a light show on a night game.

No surprises on the team sheet, and we quickly get ourselves ahead, Cal O'Hare (he can't lie) wins the tackle and does the running. Gus Hamer does the shooting. They're like Batman and Robin them two. Really good goal.

We weren't as controlled over the 90 though and I was pleased to hear the gaffer address that post match. We were, at times, sloppy with our balls, but I never felt we looked in any danger as the defence, and in particular the full backs, were excellent. A couple of routine tips over the bar for Coops that never looked likely. The only time they did do anything to hurt us the crossbar stood firm.

The second half brought us a second, Big Keef holding onto it, this time sliding Brooksy down the side who did a bit of wizardry with his heel to knock it into the path of the onrushing McCallum to tackle it into the corner of the net Bashamesque. Mad that both our goals came from Hull corners! 

The alternative man of the match goes to the 3000-or-whatever-it-was Wizards who made one bloke feel ten feet tall after the week he's had.....

We slip and slide as we fall in love
And I just can't seem to get enough of....... Ahmedhodžić!

See you at Portsmouth Wiz.