Hull 1 Wanderers 0

By GORDON SHARROCK WAR'P game number four produced more questions than answers for Wanderers.

There was irritation rather than anger in Colin Todd's reaction to the embarrassing defeat by the Third Division Tigers.

The Burnden boss delivered his post match comments in the form of a mild rebuke but made it clear he won't tolerate a repeat of the shortcomings that led to the first setback of the pre-season programme.

He remains confident Wanderers have the quality to bounce back into the Premiership at the first attempt yet, with games to come at Wrexham, York, Rotherham and Carlisle, he is honest enough to admit: "There's still lot of work to be done.

"I'm not going to go overboard in my criticism just as I wouldn't go overboard about a victory - it's only pre-season. But look at the millions of pounds worth of talent out there on the park compared with the Hull side and you expect better.

"It's all about having the pride and wanting to be a winner with Bolton Wanderers, whoever you are playing. And there were some who just didn't show the sort of urgency needed to win the game." And Todd refused to offer a string of injuries as an excuse for the lacklustre show. "No disrespect to Hull," he stressed, "but we should have been capable of beating them, whatever team we put out."

Gudni Bergsson, Scott Sellars, Mixu Paatelainen, John McGinlay and Andy Todd were all sidelined with minor injuries and Simon Coleman's departure after just six minutes didn't help matters. Under normal conditions Scott Green would not have played in centre-midfield and Scott Taylor would not have been first choice striker.

But Wanderers still had more than enough class, if they had shown the appetite.

Coleman's injury at least offered Greg Strong the opportunity to put his name in the frame and Todd was delighted with the youngster's attitude, application and performance, despite the fact that the three centre-back system looked anything but convincing. Sasa Curcic was the most alarming of the under-achievers. Marked out of the game by the pocket-sized Kenny Gilbert, the Serb gave one of his most frustrating performances - his interest waning as he struggled to make any impact.

But there was a major plus in the trimmed down shape of Nathan Blake. His value seriously questioned after just one Premiership goal following his £1.5 million transfer from Sheffied United last December, the Welsh international saw three smart first half shots flash narrowly off-target and was denied a double dabble at a last minute equaliser when Roy Carroll tipped his shot round the post and Greg Rioch - Bruce's son - cleared his shot from the resulting corner off the line.

"Nathan's worked extremely hard, set his stall out and trimmed down for the new season," Todd enthused. "There are no guarantees for him at this stage but, if he keeps working hard and performing well, he'll get his chance to score goals as we know he did before when he played in the First Division."

Hull's joy in an otherwise disappointing spectacle in which home boss Terry Dolan used 19 players including former Wanderers striker Andy Mason at centre-back, came in the 67th minute. Another ex-Wanderer, Warren Joyce, got the final touch to a Paul Fewings cross-shot after Gavin Gordon and Richard Peacock exploited some static defending.

Joyce, signed for £30,000 from Burnley and immediately appointed Tigers' captain, cleared up the confusion and pointed out: "I always score against my old clubs."

WANDERERS: Branagan, McAnsepie, Small, Coleman, Fairclough, Taggart, Green, Thompson, Curcic, Blake, Taylor. Sub Strong (for Coleman) 6 mins.

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