It’s amazing what difference two players can make to a team - something Hull City are currently feeling harder than anyone else in the division. 

  • Allahyar and Tetteh key men in their positions

Losing Allahyar Sayyadmanesh and Benjamin Tetteh within two weeks of each other may have felt like a blow at the time, but fast forward to October and you can pinpoint exactly where the season started to go south. 

The Tigers may have lost some of their first few games - 5-2 away at West Brom being a good example - but the effort and desire as well as never say die attitude saw fans accept these poor results as the players grafted to the bitter end. With Tetteh and Oscar up front, City always looked dangerous and scored two goals late into the game to give the score line a bit of respectability. 

  • Losing the duo was a turning point in the season

Against Burnley, City defended superbly well and scored on the break too. A 1-1 result against a team fancied to bounce straight back by many pleased the Tigers fans - but the injury to Allahyar was a big talking point. The Iranian’s work rate, energy and pressing was integral to the way the team played - losing him was arguably a key turning point in our season.

Without Sayyadmanesh, City are not the same side - and the same is true of Benjamin Tetteh. Injuring himself stretching for the ball against Sheffield United at the start of September, they’ve looked a shadow of their former selves and only picked up points against a poor Wigan side. 

Tetteh’s wide positioning and his ability to hold up the ball gives the City defenders an option to “spray” the ball 40 yards and relieve the press - something the Tigers have struggled to do since the Ghanaian’s injury. He provides a perfect foil for Oscar, who is deadly inside the box but struggles outside of it and running in behind - he just doesn’t have the pace. When Tetteh and Allahyar are on the pitch, this isn’t a problem - but without them, Oscar looks isolated and barely gets the ball. 

Often marked by three central defenders, his inabilities are exaggerated as those playing out wide in place of the injured duo often drop so deep for the ball the long pass wide isn’t an option, as they simply aren’t there. 

Pelkas, Sinik and Longman have all been tried in Tetteh’s position, but haven’t played the role he can due to stature more than anything. Tetteh has pace, power but also height that other players just physically don’t have. 

Young Will Jarvis arguably played the left forward role the best in recent weeks after his substitute appearance against Birmingham City as he ran at defenders and tried to make things happen. For the record, I would like to see the youngster get more game time as his desire and determination made him stand out in a poor second half on Sunday after goalpost-gate. 

  • Two away games to come - let’s hope City turn it on against the odds 

Next up for City, Blackpool away - fresh from their three red cards against Sheffield United. Something needs to change - City’s luck with referees definitely - but also the desire from the majority of the players on the pitch.

If City fans see a determined performance, they’ll not moan about the result. It’s when games are lost with too many poor performances across the park that Tigers fans are less willing to forgive.

Let’s hope the next two away games brings some light at the end of what seems to be a very long, dark tunnel currently.