It’s alright this Premier League lark isn’t it? Granted we’re yet to face any of the true powerhouses of the division, but only the most curmudgeonly of Tiger Nationals can be anything other than chuffed at how City are acquitting themselves at this early stage, something that must really irk the ignorant pundits who smugly predicted we‘d practically be relegated by this point. In yo’ face pundits!

The Tigers tipped up at Blackburn for their first top flight away game in confident mood after last weeks opening day victory, looking to spoil Paul Ince’s debut league home game as Rovers’ boss. With City robbed of the superhuman endeavours of George Boateng and with Nick Barmby starting on the bench, they lined up thus at Ewood Park:- Myhill; Dawson, Gardner, Turner, Ricketts; Garcia, Ashbee (capt.), Marney, Fagan; Geovanni and King.

 

Our Lancastrian hosts began proceedings, playing towards the gleefully vocal City fans who numbered around 4000. After clearing a wrongly given corner it was the Tigers who had the first effort on goal, Marney fed Geovanni on the left wing and the Brazillian headed straight for goal, just inside the box he forced Paul Robinson to make a low to the ground, parried save, hitting a shot under little pressure from Blackburn’s rearguard, that because the whistle had been blown after Craig Fagan charged into his marker.

 

Blackburn’s style is somewhat direct and our black and amber clad heroes valiantly defended their goal, weathering a storm of long ball derived pressure. Reid shot straight at Myhill under pressure from Gardner and Gamst Pedersen hit curled a half volleyed shot wide after some head tennis. Jason Roberts and Roque Santa Cruz are a tricky forward partnership but our central defensive pairing of Anthony Gardner and Michael Turner were in fine form keeping them at bay. With Paraguayan Santa Cruz having just signed a new 4 year deal there was always the worry he’d really want to seal it with a goal in this game but he spent most of this encounter peering out of the pocket of the frankly magnificent Turner.

 

Crowd noise resonated around Ewood Park, all of it coming from the visiting fans as the somewhat pedestrian home contingent were content to just watch, perhaps mentally occupied by the fight of local residents against a proposed bus lane, ’say no’ urge the placards in every nearby house window. Marney played in a useful cross from the right wing but Fagan had stopped after straying beyond his marker and offside so the ball ran across goal and out of play. Counter attack was the name of City’s game as they sought to contain Rovers and hit them on the break. And contain them they did, until a failure to execute the offside trap as a complete unit saw us go a goal behind on 38 minutes.

 

Jason Roberts appeared to be offside by a significant margin as he raced onto Reid’s long through ball, and he was way ahead of Gardner, but a video replay on the big board showed Ricketts played him on, and one on one with Myhill, Roberts flicked the ball beyond our keeper who had little chance. 1-0 Blackburn.

 

At last some noise from the home fans, who taunted us with a chant of ’Going down, going down’, but before they’d even finished their refrain, City were on level terms. Fagan swung a cross from the right to the far corner towards newly capped Australian international Garcia who, unmarked, looped an outrageous header over Robinson that went in off the post. Rovers fans weren’t singing anymore, but the exultant Tiger Nation were. 1-1 after 40 minutes.

Ashbee headed away a Warnock cross and Ricketts made light work of stopping Dunn’s run into the box as City put their defensive aberration behind them and became resolute once more. Ashbee wisely/cynically (choose your own perspective) took a yellow card to prevent Roberts running at the back four and after the captain and Turner combined to stop Santa Cruz turning on the edge of the box the half was over. It was a satisfactory first 45 minutes, overall they had defended very well and even after conceding, remained composed and battled their way back into the game. City play without fear and we’re simply not the pushovers some expect us to be.

Beverley born Paul Robinson respectfully acknowledged City’s support before the game resumed. The start of the second half was a largely formless period, and a lengthy stoppage for treatment on Andy Dawson who hurt himself turning to challenge Emerton did nothing for the fluidity of the game. Dawson battled on for a while but the knock would eventually best him.

Geovanni wasn’t having the impact he had last week up front but to his credit he’s a hard worker when we don’t have the ball, Phil Brown’s gameplan relies on closing down and hassling opposing players when defending and there is no room for a forward who stands on the halfway line with hands on hips waiting for service. Pleasingly, our Brazillian is a willing runner and on numerous occasions he got behind the ball, tracking down the ball carrier and helping out at the back.

Craig Fagan deserves credit too, not just for setting up Folan’s winner last week and Garcia’s leveller this, but for his constant buzzing around and making a nuisance of himself, he’s like a gnat that persistently pesters his opponents. His permanent return wasn’t greeted with much enthusiasm but so far he has shown worth this season.

Near to the hour mark, a hobbling Dawson was relieved by Bernard Mendy, a change that saw Ricketts switch to left full back and the Frenchman lining up on the right side. Though the game had become tepid the travelling Tiger nation was still in full voice and stood up to show they were Hull City. Gamst Pederson centred from the left but the ref spotted Emerton clambering over Garcia and blew for a free kick. Geovanni played a lovely pass to Fagan on the wing but the cross was headed away, it was the South American’s last contribution as he made way for Folan.

Turner shanked a clearance but made up for the error by throwing himself in front of Santa Cruz’ shot which deflected into Myhill’s waiting hands. The Paraguayan cried handball, a desperate call for a player getting little change out of Turner but the ref said no to both that and to the bus lane. King played Folan through but the linesman’s flag ended the move, offsides were a regular feature in the game and City’s forwards will need to learn to be cleverer in that respect.

Michael Turner got the better of Santa Cruz yet again when he glanced Reid’s cross behind for a corner, from which Turner headed clear. Just how ace is Michael Turner? Very I tell you.

 

Bernard Mendy has made an inauspicious start to his City career so far, we’ll write off the Crewe debacle as friendlies mean very little (indeed some of the fainter of heart foretold gloom after our pre season campaign, but we’re not doing too bad are we?) but he had hearts in mouths after he performed a spectacular looking though foolish Superman dive at the ball on the wing but failed to put it into touch and the mistake allowed Pedersen to skip past him and look to cross. Thankfully an alert Turner sprinted across to block the delivery and conceded a corner. Mendy is enthusiastic and athletic, but his decision making was poor on this occasion. The only time Santa Cruz got a march on Turner he wastefully hit the ball over the bar, and Myhill looked to have it covered should it have been lower.

 

City’s attacking midfielders and forwards were doing a great job of defending from the front and looked dangerous on the counter, Paul Robinson made a meal of Garcia’s jump to meet Ricketts’ cross and got the free kick he sought. Goal-getter Garcia made way for Barmby with around ten minutes to go.

 

Mendy affected our hearts again, this time setting pulses racing as he embarked on a run, skipping past one man and laying off to King for the one-two but the return ball was lacking and sadly one City fan is spared the obligation to wear a France shirt for another week at least.

 

City weren’t just happy with a point, they wanted more if was on offer and finished the game the far sharper of the two sides. With four minutes showing on the fourth officials electronic board, Folan had perhaps the best chance to win the game, Barmby crossed for King but Nelson headed away, and our matchwinner last week shaped himself perfectly and struck a cleanly hit volley goalward, it was though, straight at Robinson. Sam Ricketts tested the ex-Spurs netman soon after with a low drive that Robinson got down to pouch.

 

At the other end Tugay shot far wide and the game came to an end, probably a fair result, though if City had nicked it at the end Blackburn couldn’t have justifiably complained that much. The Tiger Nation left Ewood Park content and the far happier of the two sets of fans, four points from six is a handsome return and if you subscribe to the win at home, draw away ideal then all is rosy.

 

The table that never lies currently says we’re are the third best team in the country and the Tigers are enjoying life in the top division. There will be tougher tests to come for sure this season, but at this rate we’ll be back at Blackburn next year. Wonder if there’ll be a bus lane. (LM)

Myhill 6.5; Dawson 7, Turner 8.5, Gardner 7.5, Ricketts 8; Garcia 7, Ashbee 7.5, Marney 7, Fagan 7.5; Geovanni 7, King 7. Folan 7, Mendy 6, Barmby 6.5.