Who wins when in-form Tigers take on ever-improving Canaries?

Yesterday at 02:37 AM

It's been quite the week in our now-lovely little Canary bubble.

The win against Derby was one of those in which we rode our luck a bit but also rolled with the punches as they came raining in (mainly metaphorical ones from Derby fans on Twitter).

Luckily it was more Cov (a) than Swansea (a), which was just as well because the Rams were looking to make it ten home wins on the spin.

That we were able to emerge with three points, regardless of how "underserved" they apparently were, was notable in its own right but was also confirmation that Hoff-ball is starting to yield points along with the pretty pictures it paints.

Against Red Bull Leeds there was less beauty on show, but they didn't half put in a shift without the ball while looking still dangerous with it. It was a tough old night against a Leeds team that, even with a few key injuries, has all the tools needed to do a Burnley in this division.

It was Los Blancos who were painting the pretty patterns on Tuesday night in a Farke-style and for quite long spells City were forced back into their own half in a 4-5-1 to just soak it up. And they did … very well.

It was a side of this JHT team we've rarely seen this season – and hopefully won't too often – but it was heartening to see them dig in, stay composed and in shape, and repel attack after attack from the most potent forward line in the division.

And but for a brief lapse in concentration from Kenny McLean they would have somehow conjured up a clean sheet in the most unlikely of circumstances.

No one could deny Leeds their point though, and for City to go toe-to-toe with the best the Championship can offer and finish the stronger was a credit to the way this group are being coached and how they are absorbing the new messages.

So to Hull, at home, on Saturday lunchtime. The same Hull City who have now won three on the bounce after, like us, making a slowish start to the campaign.       

A slow start to the season is not the only similarity between us and them. They too are on a new journey of discovery after dispensing services with a head coach who their owner deemed to be delivering a style of football that was too negative.  

Very familiar, right?

So, for Johannes Hoff Thorup read Tim Walter – the 48-year-old German chosen to lead their charge to the Promised Land via a style of football that will excite rather than bore fans of the Humberside Tigers.

Sadly for this writer, the comparison ends there. Walter and Thorup are on different paths in terms of experience and their respective managerial journeys. The Dane is young and, by his own admission, still learning his trade, while Hull is Walter's fifth club having, along the way, been manager of both Stuttgart and Hamburg in the Bundesliga.  

Both clubs do have almost identical records though, with the Tigers also having won three, drawn three and lost two, although, in terms of goal difference, they are one better off than us – hence them being one place above us in ninth.

In other words, there's nothing more than a Rizla paper between these two sides and tomorrow promises to be just as tricky as Tuesday night.  

While I can't claim to be anything like as clued up on City's opponents as our Andy – not just this week, any week – I have gathered (thanks to BBC Sport) that Hull played in a 4-3-3 when winning 3-1 at QPR on Tuesday; a system Walter has deployed since the second game of the season.

That 4-3-3 was made up of Ivan Pandur in goal, with, from left to right, a back-four of Cody Drameh, Sean McLoughlin, Alfie Jones and Lewis Coyle. A midfield trio of Kasey Palmer, Xavier Simons and Regan Slater successfully provided the ammo for a front three of Liam Millar, Chris Bedia and Mohamed Belloumi.

(How did I do?)

What I can also tell you is that, like City, they are a team that aims to dominate possession, so we could well be in for another wrestling match where the game is won and lost in the midfield.

One name conspicuous by its absence in the Hull City line-up at Loftus Road was Abu Kamara who was an unused sub – a role to which he's become accustomed.

Oh I do hope Herr Walter decides to give him some game time tomorrow so he can be granted the fond farewell that the Carrow Road crowd was sadly denied.

For City, I’m expecting a few personnel changes.

JHT spoke in his pre-Leeds presser of game three in a three-game week being the one where you would look to freshen things up. So don’t be surprised to see a start for Amankwah Forson and, maybe, Kaide Gordon, whose midweek cameo was good. Equally, don’t expect to see Gordon play the full 90 anytime soon, as they are still carefully managing his minutes after last season’s injury.

As I write, Emiliano Marcondes has not been formally announced as a City player, but the free agent – who has previously played for Nordsjælland and Brentford and who has worked under JHT before – has been heavily linked with a move. It remains to be seen if his fitness levels are such that he could go straight into the squad.

Anyway .. expect another cheek-clencher, albeit these days said games tend to be enjoyable almost regardless of the result.

But a win would be nice… obviously. As would the opportunity to wish Abu a bon voyage.