Mike Phelan’s first game as permanent boss turned into a day to forget for Hull on the south coast.
Hull City manager Mike Phelan looks dejected
After a fine start to the season which saw the Tigers win both their opening fixtures, Hull are on the slide. They have now lost their last four Premier League games and conceded 17 goals in the process, with this latest defeat at Bournemouth the most humiliating of the lot.
While there can be some sympathy for an injury-hit newly promoted side shipping four against Arsenal and receiving a thumping at Anfield, there is simply no excuse for the way Mike Phelan’s side folded in the second half at the Vitality Stadium.
Hull City’s Ryan Mason
Ryan Mason’s first league goal for the club got them briefly back on level terms before the break, but they found themselves 3-1 down at half-time and scarcely looked like getting back into the game in the second half as they went down to their heaviest defeat of the season.
It was a collective nightmare for Hull’s players on the south coast; see below for the individual ratings.
David Marshall – 4
The former Cardiff man didn’t cover himself in glory for the first goal, as he dived past the post and left his net exposed for Charlie Daniels’ opener.
In fairness to Marshall, he couldn’t have done a great deal with the remaining five goals, with the defence in front of him far more culpable, but this was a day the 31-year-old will be keen to forget in a hurry.
Ahmed Elmohamady – 3
Hull City’s Ahmed Elmohamady
The Egyptian endured a torrid afternoon as he was terrorised by Jordon Ibe in the first half, found himself regularly caught out of position and also failed to contribute in an attacking sense.
The introduction of Josh King saw Junior Stanislas switch to Bournemouth’s left hand side, and Elmohamady struggled just as much against the former West Ham winger.
Harry Maguire – 4
The ex-Sheffield United man got stuck in well on occasion but was left wanting against the pace and industry of Callum Wilson. He also failed to provide a commanding aerial presence, finding himself caught under the ball for Steve Cook’s goal before allowing Callum Wilson a free header for Bournemouth’s fifth.
It was the latest in a string of disappointing results that Maguire has featured in; the defender is yet to appear in a winning Hull side in the Premier League this season.
Curtis Davies – 4
Davies had an excellent start to the season but also found himself failing to deal with the flurry of Bournemouth attacks on Saturday.
Hull City’s Curtis Davies
Wilson’s late header was an example of the lack of communication between himself and Maguire, and the manner of the goals that Hull conceded will frustrate someone of Davies’ undoubted quality.
Andrew Robertson – 5
The left-back delivered some impressive crosses from the flank in the first half and was unfortunate that his team-mates were not in positions to get on the end of them.
Defensively, however, Robertson struggled along with the rest of the back four and was forced off in the second half through injury.
Ryan Mason – 5
His first Tigers league goal aside, this was a quiet display from the once-capped England midfielder.
He came off second best against Arter and Surman in the midfield battle and lacked quality in attacking areas; one second half cross delivered from right in front of the travelling faithful sailed high into the stands.
Jake Livermore – 3
Hull City’s Jake Livermore
Playing in the centre of midfield for the first time this season having filled in at centre-back so far, Livermore had a nightmare at the Vitality Stadium.
The tone was set early on as he gave the ball away on numerous occasions in the first half, and he consistently failed to cope with the pressing game of Harry Arter. A return to the back four could be in order for the former Spurs man.
Sam Clucas – 4
Clucas has impressed for City so far, but he struggled to get into the game on the south coast as his side were overrun in midfield in the first half.
The second period was no better for the former Chesterfield man, who failed to deal with the rampaging forward runs of Bournemouth right-back Adam Smith and was not given the opportunity to impress in attacking positions.
Robert Snodgrass – 3
This was an ill-disciplined display from the Scottish international, who grew evermore frustrated at decisions going against him in the opening period and ended it by needlessly giving away a penalty that left his side with a mountain to climb.
After a prolific start to the season, Snodgrass is now without a goal in three league games – his personal dip in form has coincided with that of his team.
Hull City’s Robert Snodgrass looks dejected
Sean Maloney – 3
The former Wigan man was the second of Hull’s misfiring Scottish wingers on show at the Vitality Stadium.
Maloney showed a glimpse of what he was capable of when he fired a shot narrowly wide towards the end of the first half, but was otherwise ineffectual and found himself withdrawn after just 55 minutes.
Will Keane – 4
A baptism of fire for the young striker on his first league start for the Tigers. Keane was anonymous throughout proceedings on Saturday, though he was admittedly rather starved of service.
The young frontman will hope that this does not consign him to the substitutes bench for the foreseeable future, but he did little to advance his cause – Phelan may find Keane works more effectively with a strike partner up front alongside him.
Substitutes:
Hull City’s Tom Huddlestone
Tom Huddlestone – 5
The former England man played some typically pleasing on the eye crossfield passes but was ultimately powerless to stop the Bournemouth crusade.
Adama Diomande – 4
Brought on just after the hour mark, Diomande’s first involvement was to let Adam Smith run easily in behind him to set up Bournemouth’s fourth goal. Was barely involved in an attacking sense.
David Meyler – 4
A damage limitation introduction that failed to have the desired effect – Bournemouth added two more goals after Meyler’s entrance.
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