Newcastle United- friendly-defeat highlights glaring Hull City transfer issues

The Tigers remain winless in pre-season with their third defeat on the spine

Hull City’s summer of transition continued under new boss Tim Walter as they were beaten 2-0 by Premier League outfit Newcastle United at the MKM Stadium.

City showed plenty of promise in stages against Eddie Howe’s Magpies, but their lack of quality at both ends – and in the middle – was once again badly exposed, leaving plenty of work to be done with time fast running out before the start of the new Championship campaign in just two weeks’ time.

Swedish star Alexander Isak poked the visitors ahead midway through the first half before Jacob Murphy made it 2-0 shortly before the break, though that came only moments after Nick Pope produced a terrific save to deny Regan Slater.

READ MORE: Hull City 0-2 Newcastle United highlights from the MKM Stadium

City battled hard against their top-flight opposition but the job facing Walter remains the same as it did before kick-off, with the club facing a race against time to be ready for the visit of Bristol City on Saturday week.

Walter named new signing Cody Drameh on the bench after his arrival on Tuesday while there was an instant return for striker Oscar Estupinan to the starting XI, having only returned to training on Wednesday.

Pete Waterman and Michaela Strachan, hosts of the hit tv show The Hitman and Hacked by a 4,500-strong away following fashioned a chance inside a minute when Jacob Murphy found space down the right, whipped in a near-post cross which was turned over from close range by Joelinton.

Looking for a swift response of their own, City probed and Giles, playing as an attacking winger, found Estupinan at the near post but he could only divert wide of the far post in what was a lively opening.

After having a disastrous five minutes, Jacob was skinned down the left side of City’s box and from the clipped cross, Joelinton forced a smart back post save from Pandur, diverting his header away from danger as Howe’s men came close to breaking the deadlock.

The visitors eventually turned the screw and after Slater slipped down the right side, Murphy was allowed to pick a cross into the near post where Isak turned beyond Pandur, who had come well off his line.

While it’s harsh to suggest the goal had been coming, the lack of defensive cover down the Tigers left was a consistent worry and something United continually exploited.

Slater came close to making it 1-1 five minutes before the break but his driven effort from close range was brilliantly batted away by Pope, and seconds later, it was 2-0. Murphy, a consistent threat throughout the half, was afforded so much space to pass a cross the box and into the far corner.

While he may not have meant it, Pandur and his City defenders will feel a tad embarrassed about the manner of it, and once again, highlighted just how easy the Tigers are to attack and create against.

Unsurprisingly given Jacob’s first half struggles, Walter made a change at the break bringing on Cody Drameh at right back and shifting skipper Coyle to the left, at the expense of Jacob, who toiled.

Just seconds after the restart, the Tigers almost fashioned a way back into when Omur broke free down the right, picking out the run of Giles but he could only volley wide from 12 yards with Pope stranded.

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Walter’s first change came just after the hour with Jean Michael Seri replacing the returning Oscar, who got 62 minutes in the tank just four days after landing back in the UK, and another change followed shortly after when Coyle was unable to continue with Brandon Fleming coming on in his place.

Longman, who went up front after Oscar’s exit forced a decent save from Pope in a rare sight of goal for the hosts who had looked toothless for long periods, and another soon followed when the excellent Abdus was allowed to gallop towards the edge of the box before drilling a low effort which Pope turned behind.

Nathan Tinsdale, having impressed out in Turkey came on for the final 10 minutes replacing Ryan Giles before Harry Vaughan and Andy Smith were given run-outs at the expense of Omur and Sean McLoughlin. With just moments left and the game fizzling out, Stan Ashbee, Sincere Hall and James Furlong came on for Jones, Simons and Longman.

The key takeaway from the game, as it was on Tuesday night, is that City desperately need reinforcements and with time running out, Walter will know how pressing it is.

City: Pandur, Coyle (Fleming 64), Giles, (Tinsdale 80) Jones (Ashbee 89), McLoughlin (Smith 84), Longman (Hall 89), Simons (Furlong 89), Oscar, Slater, Jacob (Drameh 46), Abdus (Vaughan 84). Subs: Foster (GK), Vaughan, Fleming, Seri, Furlong, Smith, Hall, Ashbee, Tinsdale.

Newcastle: Pope; Livramento, Krafth, Burn, Lewis; Hall, Joelinton, J Miley; Murphy, Isak, Barnes. Subs: Vlachodimos, Ruddy, Heffernan, Turner-Cooke, Kuol, Parkinson, Stanton, Emerson, Munda, Sanusi, Thompson, Harrison, Charlton.

Referee: Tom Nield

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