From Hell, Hull, and Halifax, Good Lord, deliver us! I’d always assumed that this old Yorkshire phrase referred to both these grand old towns as being poverty-stricken pits of filth, evil and despair. It turns out these words form part of the so-called ‘Thieves’ Litany,’ uttered in Mediaeval Yorkshire as a leave-taking ‘prayer’ between two thieves as they parted. Another version(cf. https://www.yorkshirefolksong.net/song.cfm?songID=70 ) calls it ‘The Beggar’s Litany.’ Hell was greatly to be feared, of course, and both Hull (whose gaol had an evil reputation) and Halifax were historically known for being especially harsh to criminals. One account of Hull even stated that felons were drowned by being tied to gibbets in the Humber estuary at low tide and left to drown as the sea returned.
The city of Hull is much improved these days and is today very much holding its head above water as a growing tide of tourists visit. The football club is also on an upwards trajectory currently, if not exactly the crest of a wave, after several years of stormy weather. You may recall that previous owner Assem Allam tried to change the club’s name to Hull City Tigers, amongst many other barmy management decisions, causing major fan protests and disaffection over several seasons.
In 2023-24 they finished a very creditable 7th, one place and one point above Boro. It was therefore a huge surprise when the new owner, Turkish media tycoon, Acun Ilicali, sacked manager, Liam Rosenior, at the end of the season. Hull unsurprisingly plummeted last year, avoiding relegation only on goal difference, and going through 3 managers across the season. I therefore confidently predicted City would struggle again this year and I put them down in my bottom 3 in the COTS challenge. Once again I have proven just how useless I am at this prediction game!
Instead, City are doing well under new head coach, Sergej Jakirovic. No, me neither. He’s a Bosnian who has managed several clubs in Croatia (including taking Dinamo Zagreb to a league and cup double in 2023-24) before moving to Turkish side Kayserispor last year.
City currently sit in 8th place with 28 points. Their 30 goals scored is the second highest in the division after Coventry. Yet they have a zero goal difference, as their defensive record is equally startling, with their 30 goals conceded the worst of any side except Sheffield Wednesday! So for Boro this is very much a case of defending stoutly and then attacking with pace and vigour at every opportunity!
Their home form has been solid generally, with 5 home wins, 2 draws and 2 losses. They had good home wins against Southampton, Sheffield United and Leicester and they drew 2-2 with PNE. On the road they’ve won at Birmingham, Norwich, and last week, at Stoke. (Thanks for that, lads! Did us a big favour.)There are some big scalps in that lot, though. This is definitely a strong side that scores goals. Beware Boro.
You’ll no doubt be familiar with a few names: Boro favourite Matt Crooks, the wardrobe himself; Ryan Giles, who has 7 assists this year, so might be getting somewhere back to the form we hoped he’d repeat when Carrick brought him back; the ex Sheffield United trio of midfielder John Lundstram, defender John Egan, and striker Ollie McBurnie (6 goals so far) and back in training this week with a possible place on the subs’ bench mooted; ex-Leeds starlet, Joe Gelhardt, top scorer with 9; and ex Man Utd full-back, Brandon Williams.
Given that all of those bar Williams are hard-bitten lads who’ve done the hard yards with gritty Yorkshire clubs (Boro in Giles’s case), it’s something of a surprise that Hull have conceded so many goals. Perhaps they’re missing Alfie Jones? Anyway, it suggests that they are vulnerable if put under pressure. So let’s hole Hull beneath the water line!
Boro finally found a way to beat Derby on Tuesday in what was yet another magnificent display of grit, determination and team spirit. Whittaker looks a different player, at last, but we obviously need more goals from the rest of the forwards. I expect this to be a different challenge for Boro compared with Derby, whose low block was very difficult to break down. I’m sure Hull will attack us. That should open up space for us to exploit.
Defensively against the Rams we were far too open at first and we will need to be much more compact against Hull on Friday, especially if the team espouses Hellberg’s new high-line philosophy. Who knows how many defenders we will have fit? It seems likely that we will have to start with the same defence as against Derby. It was great to see Bangura back; let’s hope he is fit enough to start and ideally to play the full 90 minutes, but that might be too much of a stretch after so many months out of the team. Archie Baptiste may have to deputise at some point. He’s a big lad and certainly looked the part on Tuesday.
A point on Friday would be good enough to keep us in second spot, or third if Millwall win at Bristol City. I don’t think a draw would be a bad result.
So, colleagues, will our trip to Hull be the road to Hell, or will Boro give them one Hellberg of a beating? From Hull, Good Lord, deliver us three points!