With the Premier League season edging towards its halfway point, who has starred for Hull City and can Steve Bruce ensure another season back in the top flight? Here's a look at how Bruce's men have fared so far.
So near yet so far as the most gifted squad in the club's history struggles to live up to its billing.
Highlight
Arsenal 2-2 Hull City. One win in 15 games since the opening day victory at QPR means it has been slim pickings, but a trip to the Emirates on Oct. 18 gave a clear indication of City's potential. Not only did the Tigers find the resilience not to crumble when trailing to Alexis Sanchez's early opener, but they had the audacity to draw level through Mo Diame and take the lead through Abel Hernandez. The second goal did not gain the credit it deserved. City denied their hosts a single touch of the ball from the restart after halftime and a sweeping move ended with Hernandez's fine header from a deft Tom Huddlestone cross.
They held the lead, too, for over 45 minutes. Yet just when it appeared as if City had done enough to exact revenge over last season's FA Cup final winners, up popped Danny Welbeck with a stoppage-time leveller. In truth it sums up City's season: For all their promise and potential, the performance fell short of delivering the result manager Bruce believes they are capable of. Like I said, so near but so far.
Low Point
Burnley 1-0 Hull City. Rarely has Bruce been left infuriated quite like the day his City side surrendered at Burnley. Credit to the Clarets, who deserved to end their long wait for a Premier League victory, but City were appalling on a grim day at Turf Moor. Few even bothered to lift a leg, preferring instead to rely on reputations to see them through. Ashley Barnes' winner in the second half condemned the Tigers to a sobering loss and, quite rightly, cued up a furious reaction from their manager. Bruce unleashed on them in the dressing room afterwards, accusing his team of failing to care, and then served up an apology to the supporters who had been let down so badly. It was an inexplicable afternoon.
Two weeks earlier City had drawn 0-0 at Liverpool but a lack of fight against a technically inferior opponent brought a rude awakening. The ramifications of the result have since become clear. While Burnley have been revived by that victory and climbed back in touch with a congested bottom half, City have never quite looked the same. That was the day a season's ambitions called for immediate realignment.
Surprise Star
Andy Robertson. Although he has been touted as the next big thing up in Scotland for some time after a superb breakthrough season with Dundee United, few expected Robertson to be such an instant hit in the Premier League -- least of all Bruce. The Hull City boss was only expecting to use Robertson sparingly, if at all, but since convincing his manager of his talents in a friendly away to Stuttgart, the young Scot has barely looked back. The secret was well and truly let out of the bag when he scored for Scotland against England in the November friendly and already opponents are getting wise to his searing pace and sweet left foot.
The second half of the season will bring different demands for Robertson. We are already seeing Bruce attempting to protect the rookie with tactical omissions here and there and work is needed on his defensive game before he can be considered a fully fledged Premier League star. That should not detract from his excellent introduction, though. Just a few months after costing 2.85 million pounds, pundits are already predicting his value could be four times that. A very big future awaits this left back.
Must Do Better
Abel Hernandez. Harsh to pick on a player who scored three goals in his first five games in the Premier League, but Hernandez still has to justify a club record outlay of 10 million pounds. The last two months have seen his form fizzle out and the striker is currently struggling to command a starting place. In his defence, it hasn't been easy. As well as jetting around the world with Uruguay during this season's international breaks, he also returned home for the birth of his child to miss two games. There is clearly talent in those boots of his -- as a debut goal against West Ham underlines -- but more is required before City can conclude it was money well spent.
Big things are always expected from any record signing and the next few months demand he leaves a greater imprint on a trying campaign at the KC Stadium. Countryman Gaston Ramirez was another contender for this accolade but the success of a season-long loan feels much less vital.
Great Expectations
As recently as late October the optimists were targeting a top-half finish for City, but now the only target is Premier League survival. Just 13 points from 16 games has certainly dismantled any false delusions of grandeur, but the hope remains that Bruce has enough talent at his disposal to turn it all around in time. The response needs to come quickly before that belief erodes.