Premier League: Steve Bruce concedes Hull City didnt do enough against Southampton
Saturday 1 November 2014 18:31, UK
Steve Bruce says Hull City 'huffed and puffed' against Southampton and ultimately paid the price for a moment of ‘madness'.
Eldin Jakupovic’s misplaced clearance less than three minutes in ending up costing Hull dear, with Victor Wanyama firing into an unguarded net from 40 yards out to seal a 1-0 win for the visitors to the KC Stadium.
Victory cements Southampton’s standing in second place in the Premier League table and forces Bruce back to the drawing board.
He has now seen his side draw a blank in back-to-back fixtures, with plenty of effort failing to produce tangible results in the final third of the field.
Bruce told Sky Sports after Saturday’s home defeat:"The longer it went, the more we huffed and puffed but we didn’t really create enough to get that goal back.
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“It’s an awful goal to concede from our end. It’s a wonder strike from Wanyama, to hit it with that pace and that accuracy. It’s either a great strike or a horrible mistake. We never really recovered from that.”
He added: "There was nothing really in it. The more we pushed forward, there was nothing really in it.
"We’ve said for a long time that they’re a very good team, Southampton, it’s no fluke that they are at the top end of the league.
“They bought very, very well over the summer when everyone thought they would struggle. They have brought in some very good players and fair play to the manager too, he has got them playing some very good football. They are a good team.”
Bruce refused to point the finger of blame at top flight rookie Jakupovic for Hull’s latest setback, with the Switzerland international goalkeeper handed a difficult task in covering for injured duo Allan McGregor and Steve Harper.
There are fine margins, as we’ve seen today. We have lost the game today due to two minutes of madness, as far as we’re concerned. But that’s what the league is.
“It’s been difficult for him because we’ve lost two experienced goalkeepers,” said Bruce.
“He’s been thrown in at the Emirates and done very well. He’s been thrown in at Liverpool and done very well.
“It’s a shame for the boy today because it’s his Premier League home debut and unfortunately he’s made a mistake where some goalkeepers get away with it – we see it week in, week out with people getting away with it.
“If Wanyama takes a touch, I think he gets back in his goal and he saves it. Sometimes they end up in row Z, but Eldin’s been punished today unfortunately, which is a bit harsh on him.”
Hull are now 13th, three points clear of the drop zone, and while Bruce believes their performances have been deserving of greater reward, he has no complaints at how things have gone.
He added: “We could have been two, three, four, five points better off, but I’m sure most managers would say the same.
“There are fine margins, as we’ve seen today. We have lost the game today due to two minutes of madness, as far as we’re concerned. But that’s what the league is.”
