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Birmingham City player ratings gallery vs Hull City: Two score 3/10 and three get 4s in ‘car crash’ defeat

Charlie Haffenden
·7-min read
Rounded a little easily for 1-0 but couldn’t do a great deal given he had to rush outside of his area. Good save to deny Delap in the 26th minute and made a few other stops you would expect him to make. Claimed set pieces well.
Rounded a little easily for 1-0 but couldn’t do a great deal given he had to rush outside of his area. Good save to deny Delap in the 26th minute and made a few other stops you would expect him to make. Claimed set pieces well.

Wayne Rooney endured a car crash home debut as Birmingham City were beaten comfortably by Championship rivals Hull City on Wednesday night. Blues tried to play positively with a strong press and high line but their frailties were laid bare as the Tigers took advantage of a lacklustre display. Boos rang around St Andrew’s Stadium both at the interval and at full-time as supporters voiced their disapproval at the change of system and lack of authority. It was a night to remember for 16-year-old Romelle Donovan as the midfielder was handed a senior debut but for everyone else associated with Birmingham, it was one to forget as soon as possible.

Blues made a strong start as they got on the front foot right away and caused problems, particularly on the right flank. Oliver Burke found plenty of joy sprinting down the wing and crossing deep, with Siriki Dembele latching on to a couple but unable to capitalise. It was Liam Rosenior’s side that took the lead, though, and it was completely avoidable as Emmanuel Longelo made a horrendous error in the 13th minute. The ball fell to the left-back after a goal-kick and he misjudged the bounce, completely mis-hitting his attempted pass back to John Ruddy. Hull striker Liam Delap said thank you very much as he reacted brilliantly to round Ruddy before passing into an open net for 1-0.

The Tigers gained great confidence from their goal and pressed high to create some big opportunities in an effort to make it two. Rooney’s desire to push both full-backs high up the field left Blues exposed at the back and it was nearly very costly. Birmingham captain Dion Sanderson gave the ball away in midfield and it was fired straight into the path of Hull forward Scott Twine, just outside the area. The attacking midfielder skipped beyond both Kevin Long and Ruddy for an open goal but tripped over his own leg, giving Blues an opportunity to clear away. It really should’ve been 2-0.

Displayed superb stamina as he darted forward to attack but then would sprint back to defend when Blues lost possession. That’s easier said than done in a Rooney system, especially when there’s a quick transition.
Displayed superb stamina as he darted forward to attack but then would sprint back to defend when Blues lost possession. That’s easier said than done in a Rooney system, especially when there’s a quick transition.

Birmingham occasionally caused trouble going forward in the first period, especially with the audacious high press. There were a couple of instances when Hull goalkeeper Ryan Allsop was under pressure to clear away but the indecisiveness from Birmingham’s attackers meant nothing came from these moments. Much of the threat came down the wings but only the occasional cross came off. Bacuna had Blues’ biggest chance of the first half as Burke cut the ball back to the midfielder just outside the six-yard box. Much to Rooney’s dismay, however, the volleyed effort sailed narrowly over the crossbar. Dembele also had an opening as he forced Allsop into a save from distance.

Hull pushed for a second before the break and nearly got it, twice. Former Aston Villa man Jaden Philogene cut in from the left, beating both Cody Drameh and Sanderson before firing hard and low, just inches wide of the far post. Ex-Fulham midfielder Jean Michael Seri then reacted quickest to a loose touch in the penalty area but had a similar fate as the ball dribbled merely inches away from the right woodwork. A minority of the St Andrew’s faithful sounded their disappointment at the poor first 45 minutes, booing as Rooney’s men headed down the tunnel for a half-time talking-to.

Blues came out firing for the second half, on the front foot just as they were at the very beginning of the first. Krystian Bielik and Dembele both had close-range shots blocked, Bacuna was given the opportunity to swing in three or four corners, and the high press from Jay Stansfield and Koji Miyoshi continued to trouble Allsop. Once five or 10 minutes had passed, however, as did Birmingham’s threat. Hull regained composure, were able to halt the output of Rooney’s side and even managed to tot up a few half-chances, stinging Ruddy’s gloves on more than one occasion.

As Birmingham’s frustration grew, possession was often given away cheaply and it led to the Tigers breaking forward to earn a two-goal lead. Philogene, receiving the ball on the left, toyed with Drameh, ran past Jordan James with ease and then fired with power and drive to find the bottom right-hand corner. Ruddy had no chance as he was sent on his way to collect the ball from the back of his net. The away end was sent into raptures. The rest of St Andrew’s? Well, you could hear a pin drop.

Struggled when pressured by Twine and Delap and gave away a couple of sloppy fouls in dangerous positions. Made one brilliant lunging tackle in the first half that effectively halted a Hull breakthrough for 2-0. Let down, however, by his poor playing out from the back.
Struggled when pressured by Twine and Delap and gave away a couple of sloppy fouls in dangerous positions. Made one brilliant lunging tackle in the first half that effectively halted a Hull breakthrough for 2-0. Let down, however, by his poor playing out from the back.

There was little-to-no threat of Blues coming back into the game as the visitors were well drilled, with Rosenior guiding his men. Rooney, meanwhile, took quite the battering on the touchline as first the away support gave him grief but then, rather incredibly, as did the home. It’s worth stressing that it was only a minority, but some fans got to their feet and shouted for Rooney to be given his marching orders. Blimey. Here are our Birmingham player ratings from tough home debut for the new manager.

Attendance: 19,530; away: 694.

Was instructed to step up in possession but it brought about more bad than good. Was beaten far too easily by Delap early on and gave the ball away in a dangerous position, nearly leading to Twine making it 2-0 in the first half. Improved a little in the second period.
Was instructed to step up in possession but it brought about more bad than good. Was beaten far too easily by Delap early on and gave the ball away in a dangerous position, nearly leading to Twine making it 2-0 in the first half. Improved a little in the second period.
Was the man to make the horrendous back-pass that led to Hull’s goal for 1-0 and that wasn’t the only time he gave away possession. Longelo looked out of sorts for much of the game, allowing Delap and Twine far too much room in behind.
Was the man to make the horrendous back-pass that led to Hull’s goal for 1-0 and that wasn’t the only time he gave away possession. Longelo looked out of sorts for much of the game, allowing Delap and Twine far too much room in behind.
Had so much to do with Blues so exposed to counter attacks. Didn’t cope well as he struggled to control possession for sustained periods. Gave away the ball so often we lost count.
Had so much to do with Blues so exposed to counter attacks. Didn’t cope well as he struggled to control possession for sustained periods. Gave away the ball so often we lost count.
The occasional nice touch and the odd searching pass but kept playing the ball with unnecessarily flair, often giving it away. Had over half a dozen shots but didn’t get a single one on target.
The occasional nice touch and the odd searching pass but kept playing the ball with unnecessarily flair, often giving it away. Had over half a dozen shots but didn’t get a single one on target.
Was effective in the early stages as he played a few crosses in from the right. Also laid off a beautiful first-time pass to set up Bacuna midway through the first half. Went very quiet beyond half time, though, as he appeared to run out of steam.
Was effective in the early stages as he played a few crosses in from the right. Also laid off a beautiful first-time pass to set up Bacuna midway through the first half. Went very quiet beyond half time, though, as he appeared to run out of steam.
Dangerous in spells but took on defenders at when at times he should’ve looked for a pass. Possibly a reflection on the manager’s instructions rather than individual preference.
Dangerous in spells but took on defenders at when at times he should’ve looked for a pass. Possibly a reflection on the manager’s instructions rather than individual preference.
Much like Bacuna, some things stuck but most didn’t. Beat his man on many an occasion but was then dispossessed on plenty of others. The final ball wasn’t there, either, as he often took too long to make key decisions.
Much like Bacuna, some things stuck but most didn’t. Beat his man on many an occasion but was then dispossessed on plenty of others. The final ball wasn’t there, either, as he often took too long to make key decisions.
Looked isolated up top, unable to have much of an impact as much of the play went down the flanks. Pressed effectively, though.
Looked isolated up top, unable to have much of an impact as much of the play went down the flanks. Pressed effectively, though.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 25: Scott Twine of Hull City battles for possession with Siriki Dembele of Birmingham City during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Hull City at St Andrews (stadium) on October 25, 2023 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 25: Scott Twine of Hull City battles for possession with Siriki Dembele of Birmingham City during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Hull City at St Andrews (stadium) on October 25, 2023 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)