Subs: Robles, Jelavic, Kone, Deulofeu, Naismith, Pienaar, Stones.

That's 5 attacking players on the bench! Is Oviedo injured?

Jelavic is not a lone striker and definitely needs a partner like either Kone or Lukaku up front. When Lukaku goes back to Chelsea we will need Jelavic and Kone so I would not even consider letting Jelavic go.

Jags is looking a bit tired, Distin needs to keep his concentration and watch the accuracy on those long balls.

Lukaku needs some service. Ross is the heartbeat of the team at the moment.

We were better second half!

IMHO the defence should be the focus of RM's attention in the next few weeks. Conceding too many and we'll get a real trouncing if this isn't addressed.

Still, a win is a win is a win and should build confidence. Unbeaten all year at GP.

Keep the wins coming Roberto. 4 points ahead of Man U, 3 points off the lead, yet we have people moaning like we've been beaten 3-0.

Cheer up, it could be worse, you could be a Sunderland fan.

Good on you, Pienaar! First touch was the winner.

Thoroughly enjoying the football, the pace of counter attacks. We just need that missing magic of the final pass being right (Mirallas castigated Barkley big time with about 10 mins to go when he didn't put him through onto a clear goal)

Our defence at times looked appalling. We were completely asleep for their goal and got lucky with some of our passing around the back (I'm thinking particularly of Distin's horrific 'backpass' to Howard that looked more like a shot).

As for our attack, Kone needs to really buck his ideas up and we're going to be absolutely screwed if one of either Barkley or Lukaku pick up a knock.

Finally, Ross (200), criticism of the team when they've played badly (which we did) doesn't become null and void just because we got 3 points. They're still valid criticisms whether we won or not and hopefully Martinez knows what he needs to do to sort them out.

Lets keep grinding out the results until January and hopefully Martinez will get a nice chunk of cash to improve the squad some more.

Last season, the 4 least-conceding defences ended up in the Champions League. We were the fifth, and finished 6th. The way for a top 4 spot goes through a strong defence – look at Southampton.

We didn't find enough space today partly because the players didn't try hard enough + the Hull players tight marked us.

Kone just needs a goal to kick him off, his general play is smart, needs playing time but will not get much because of Lukaku.

It's not a bad sign when were playing a bit iffy but still managing to win.

Their corners were a nightmare. Howard didn't command his area and we looked a shambles.

Like I said on an earlier thread, you can only play that style successfully with certain types of players and Distin, Jagielka aren't them. They are both very good defenders but are not footballers.

It's early days under Martinez and we are winning so have to give time for the football to improve, but I can totally understand how Wigan conceded so many goals.

(1) A poor performance

(2) Relief at the knowledge that we had a lucky win

(3) A little gloating and nipping on redcafe and 606 perhaps?

(4) Real paralyzing fear at our dodgy defensive pair who make each corner a hide-behind-the-couch moment — and this cannot just be conveniently explained away by "Oh it's all down to adjusting to new formations, innit."

1. Our distribution from the back is heart-attack inducing. Perhaps Alcaraz may be the solution to that.

2. Despite the misses, Kone looked bright and fitter. He will definitely add something and get some goals this year if fit.

3. Both Ross and Kevin tend to take too many touches in the final third when quick through-balls could be on.

4. The most pleasing aspect for me was that they barely had a shot in the last 10 mins. Good game control.

5. Pienaar is far preferable to Osman in that left wing slot. Good to have him back.

Less cheery: why are a significant number of our 'fit' players looking cream-crackered by minute '80, and, again, that scary defence and set-pieces in particular. Yikes!

I can't knock McCarthy's work-rate, but I remembered him offering a little bit more creative wise at Wigan, or was that my imagination? Still, a player with his engine are worth their weight in gold. I was just expecting a little more than sheer work rate from McCarthy when we signed him. Perhaps I'm judging him too early.

Howard has no control over his area, Jag and Distin were very poor. McCarthy played very well but he was the only one. It's suppose to be a good sign if you win while not playing well and that's what we did today.

You are spot on: not great performance and relief in the end but on defending corners it doesn't matter about new systems. Defending corners is basic stuff for centre halves. But they are not helped when fanny face / Dracula in disguise won't come out for crosses.

That said, Pienaar's return will help us no end. Left midfield as been an issue for us with Pienaar out (Personally I would have put Mirallas there and Deulofeu on the right). Osman was very poor today, understandly so, and credit to Martinez for making the decision when he did. Pienaar, whilst out of sorts over the past year, keeps the ball fantastically well, has great movement and works superbly with Baines. I'm sure we will be a more fluid outfit with him in the side.

Kone should also have killed the game off. He showed at Wigan that his finishing is sometimes terrible. But he looked dangerous when he came on, and when he gets a couple of goals, will be a real threat from the bench. He just needs time.

Whilst I didn't enjoy the performance today, I enjoyed the result, and the current league table. Some winnable games coming up too.

It was nerve-racking at times today when we took the ball from the keeper when under pressure; when it comes right after half a season or so, it will be less so.

Interesting build up to Pienaar's goal suggests we can and are mixing it up.

The problem at the moment is in defence as it seems some of the defenders trying the tippy-tappy football move out of position leaving us vulnerable.

As good defence is the platform for a comfortable, win I think more time should be spent improving it as going over previous seasons our defence was a lot more organized.

They didn't get a sniff last fifteen.

2. Barkley has to remember it's a team game and not try to do it all himself.

3. We spend too much time and place too much emphasis on pissing about at the back. The defence do not look comfortable playing tippy-tappy.

4. Kone is a black Bernie Wright.

Our very poor GD is an indication that we just cannot put away these teams – our 3 draws could certainly have become 4 draws today. I also worry we now have no decent defensive cover for Jagielka and Distin. Jagielka looked very tired – his play is predictable, and he will be exploited in future games. As for Kone – a waste of time.

Today wasn't especially comfortable to watch. Anyone of my age will confirm that the same could be said of some matches involving the Holy Trinity. Poor performances happen. You regroup, rethink and move on.

So in light of the above - pretty good and better than I thought we would be doing at this stage. I agree with John H - transition will be 18 months or so but I remember a few folk predicting relegation after 2 games!

On the basis of today where a to be honest bit of hard graft squeezed out a win and then some of those crisp sunshine periods in other games I think that it's onwards and upwards in what will be a lengthy transitional time involving inevitable setbacks in which we will see where we stand in the top-7 (love what Saints are doing but like the baggies last year they will slip to 8th-10th).

Sounds like the definition of a good team to me.

Finishing remains a problem with Lukaku exposed as a mere mortal and Kone a clown. As for all that PAATB, you have to wonder what all this 'filosofy' nonsense will cost us over the next few months.

24 months of transition? Fucking ridiculous when we ought to be building on last year's 6th not learning to take a dozen passes before crossing the half-way line!

Just behind Lukaku I’d put Kevin M. We can play Ross as and when and where.

Don’t worry about defence, we are still joint third in the table and things are looking good.

And hey, we haven’t even started yet!

We didn't play at full throttle today as International week took its toll but we still won with a couple of top draw goals. We are in a nice League position and the fans who welcomed Martinez to the club are enjoying their footy again. I believe we can only get better as a football team/club with RM at the helm.

Just give the guy a little time.... Martinez is a gem of a manager and we are lucky to have him. He did turn the RS down by the way!!!

There will be setbacks along the way and I am already preparing myself for the day when a team really presses us and gets an early goal. There is a real thumping round the corner.

We didn't play that well overall but won against a pesky well organised side that even Man City had trouble overcoming a few months ago; this time last year we were drawing these types of games, remember a 1-1 draw with the awful QPR? The draw at home to Norwich? Away to Wigan? Loss at Reading?

At least we got the win today and we have to remember the likes of Barkley and Lukaku are nowhere near the finished article, they have both limited experience of starting and finishing Premier League matches but will over time get better.

The worst culprits today were the more experienced pros like Distin, Jagielka and the seriously spent Leon Osman.

McCarthy was outsanding and I am starting to see why we wanted him so bad, like a young Scott Parker, bites you legs and keeps the ball well, added much needed presence to our (in the past, lightweight) midfield.

The only few things I really do wish we could try to work on are winning some headers from corner kicks, in both boxes. When is the last time we scored a proper old-fashioned header from a corner? I know it's only a small fraction of the game but comes in useful if you could actually look a threat now and again from set pieces.

Good result though going into next week against one of our more bogey sides over recent years in terms of getting many wins with the exception of last seasons trip to Villa, and please Everton keep tabs on Gabby Agbonlahor, starting to become our modern day Les Ferdinand like nemesis.

From other matches it is clear that Coleman, Jags, Distinct and Bainsey are being asked to things they were never asked to do before. Personally I think that Bainsey gets caught up field way too much and does not get any cover he sets off. The return of Pienaar when he gets himself match fit may help that as often when Bainsey went to the touch line he would provide some cover. Having seen their goal on the highlights Bainsey was skinned by their player which does not happen too often.

Despite having McCarthy and Barry supposedly to be holding midfielders, I feel they both like to get forward and this one if the areas that Fellaini often did well as a sweeper in front of the back four. Also Looking at the highlights Hull looked to be a big and physical team a la Stoke of old and the new Everton ere not that big. Hull created all sorts of problems from corners where we miss Fellaini and when he played Jelly. I often thought Jelly contributed more to the team when defending at corners rather than not scoring.

But we are 5th with a 15 points from 8 matches... basically 2 points per game which will give us 76 points by May. That will do me.

Next week more frustration as Friggin TSN are showing the Villa game online... or offline as it was today.

COYB

Trouble is with some people they are never happy, just want instant success, well without fucking stupid bottomless pits of cash to spend it aint going to happen straight away is it in terms of finishing 4th? We can and could win a cup so let's see where the FA Cup leads us to but I am not going to jump on a new manager's back after two months of relatively decent results.

Bruce has made some good signings and they'll be comfortable. The last 20 minutes was the most relaxed I've been sat in my seat in the Park End with a one goal lead.

A smarter finish from Kone (who I thought did OK) A shot from Pienaar when one and one and a drop of the shoulder from Ross with a right foot finish from the edge of the box and we could have been comfortable.

Would you rather we backed off and hoofed it like last season's Norwich home game? Hull have lost to the 'Big 3' — Chelsea, Man City and Everton, all away. Well done to them, they had a go and brought a good following. First time in a while I've heard the announcement ' Today's game is sold out' as I walked to the turnstile (hey it's retro day). Why? Because we are trying to play football. Let's embrace it! We'd all have taken 15 points from 8 games at the start of the season. We've played the two teams that will finish first and second, The shite haven't.

67% possession means that the other team are chasing the ball. They were so tired at the end it was like they'd stopped playing. Keep the ball and tire them out. It works for me, 15 points from 8 games....what's not to like?

BTW - I was at a loose end last weekend (International break and all) so went to Fleetwood v Chesterfield, OFM was there scouting a Fleetwood player, can you imagine Roberto being there? Give thanks!

Even Man City have had some seriously rocky patches with bollocks defending and an awful result at Cardiff, Liverpool lost at home to Southampton, Chelsea lost to us and have looked ordinary at times, United have been on a downward spiral for a few years and have been landed with a manager who isn't exactly known for attacking football or winning high profile matches.

We are in a very very competitive league this season, I cannot see anyone really running away from anyone at this stage of the season, maybe after Christmas things do tend to pan out how they finish but, at the minute, it's all about winning as many points as early as possible.

Howard, I'd never realised before has a great throw on him, much better and more accurate than his kicking, should utilise that more. Still, what could easily have been 1-1, 2-2, brill to be where we are early doors with such a shift in management, tactics, training, transfers, media relations.

Each passing week I'm less and less concerned about Bainsey going to OT, that's the last place any player with any ambition will head.

Happy Saturday night to all Blues!

Loved the great passages of play when we had them (and there was some great interchange stuff). And I hope they become more frequent and consistent.

First half I was surprised how much went down our left-hand side. At times Seamus and Kevin were in more space and yet Barry and McC turned away from them and went left.

Hull, I think, are a somewhat better side than some give them credit for. They pressed us hard at times. And they can actually play some goof (good!) passing football themselves. Having said that, I'd like to see us put such sides to the sword with more ruthlessness.

I'm looking forward to when our high level of possession gets turned into more chances being created in and around the box. There are many opportunities when a shot presents itself which we will, hopefully, be taking rather than playing another pass.

So, no negativity but honest appraisal.

We could also do with a another quality midfielder in January I'm sure RM knows that better than anyone, money shortage shouldn't be a problem!

With those changes I think we can seriously challenge for the top 4 or 5 places.

As I predicted, Kone needed to come on after an hour as Lukaku has done loads of travelling in the past fortnight. Its not a coincidence that the players who played in the internationals struggled. There is no centre back pairing in the league who I would swap for Jags and Distin. Man City swapped out ALL their back four today which should give every fan an idea of the difference in playing squads quality... money talks boys!!

Hull City have given every team trouble and its a great hurdle to get over successfully. We have not lost a Premier League fixture at home since 2012. I don't think that any other team in the league has equalled that particular stat. When the lads are back together and firing on all cylinders they are more than a match for anyone at Goodison. We just need to be better defensively for away games!

Come on lad, read your post back then look at the table.

Early days, mate, it will take half a season.

We need to be able to go long to Lukaku for a for 15-20 mins to force the opposition to defend in their own half, this should give the CBs much more time on the ball to play how Roberto wants, we can't be one dimensional, it makes us too easy to work out. Also can we fuckin shoot when we get in and around the oppo's box pls, Jesus fuckin Christ! (I find that frustrating.)

Yep. Good stuff.

In reality, I believe Kone for Barkley will do the trick.

We have to shake off this expectation that we're just going to smash teams left right and centre all the time. We actually did well controlling a lot of their open play attacks. We only really had problems from set pieces. Hull posed us a problem to go and get the winner after they equalised and we had the quality to do it and to shut them out. More than deserving of three points.

Our problems have been longstanding. There is a weakness in the Jagielka and Distin partnership to long balls either right down the middle or whipped in from the angle. They've always had this susceptibility, I don't know what it is but Distin just does ridiculous things at corners and Jagielka seems to be undercooking crosses and letting attacker sin behind him. We oculd have conceded loads today. That being said wedidn't look like conceding from open play so hopefully it won't take too much to fix.

On another note Pienaar has taken a lot of stick on here for those times when he hans't quite been as good as he usually is. He's still class though in everything he does. He makes the most difficult of link up play look so easy. Touch, agility, aggression, work rate - class player who improves us immensely.

We needed a fresh start and I think we have the man to do it. Unlike others I don't think that playing poorly and winning is a lot to be happy about. I have absolutely no doubt, though, that we will play well and win more often than we have done for a long time.

Man Utd and Chelsea have won titles over this past decade grinding out results like we did today. They didn't just simply beat every team convincingly on the way to their titles, they often just found a way to win when they weren't playing that well - that's the sign of a good team.

Arsenal in the last few years are a prime example of a team who can't win when they don't play well. That's why they've failed to challenge for the PL title for the last few years.

It would be difficult to sum the game up better than your post 296.
Absolutely spot on

I suspect reason why Martinez wants to fast track Stones

As you say though that is the Premier League – there are very few teams nowadays that will roll over (Sunderland apart).

Pienaar absolutely improves us and fits right in with RM's way.

Finally, despite the terrible miss, I thought that Kone looked good when he came on (footie wise, not hair!)

I went off him a little towards the end of last season, but our new style may suit him down to the ground.

With McCarthy & Barry doing all the dirty work, it will give Pienaar & Barkley more space in the final third, where they are both at their most effective.

Could be a very well balanced midfield we have there.

I still think we deserved to win the game today despite only McCarthy and Barry being anywhere near the standards we are capable of. Lets not forget Hulls last away match saw them come from behind twice before winning the points at Newcastle and was always going to be a tricky fixture.

The positives should come from the obvious mistakes being made from goalkeeper and defenders can easily be put right as defending corners and set pieces are just basics of concentration and tracking runners and this apart I don't really remember Hull causing Howard to make a save.

As for jags playing long passes, he's the PL's current long pass holder, and most of them just go into touch; it's a pity he can't produce his England performances for his employers.

Looking back a couple of seasons, I remember City were dire in lots of games, such as the Gibbo game at Goodison, and even against relegation fodder QPR on the final day but they managed to claim the title. We've been having some terrible games for years and getting nowhere so playing below par and winning doesn't upset me too much.

Spurs got battered at home to WHU who we beat at their own ground; we beat 11 man Newcastle but the reds couldn't beat 10, so maybe we should trust RM who has had bad luck with injuries and had our LB's head turned by our ex boss. Give Robby time - I'm sure he won't need 11 years

My main worry is that by losing at Fulham in the League Cup we have actually deprived the likes of Deulofeu, Stones, Oviedo, Alcaraz getting good game time which allows to bring them into the 1st team ready to replace whoever is out. Even though Jags and Distin are going through a sticky patch would you trust Stones, Alcaraz say against Beneteke next week ? I wouldn't . The Under 21 set up is of no use to 1st team players, other than a fitness test.

Everton won yesterday, 2-1, against a team playing very well at the moment who hadn't conceded a goal for about 3 hours, so why all the scrutiny?

All I saw (watching from my sofa with a huge bloody cast on my ankle) was a team who kept possession really well (us) against a team high on confidence. One thing I didn't like which lots of people have mentioned, is our marking at corners – we seem to have started zonal-marking, which I've never been a fan of on any level.

Distin was also pretty shocking yesterday, but apart from that, we played well enough to win the game, and with 67% of possession it does mean that the opposition have less opportunity to score – it's really hard to score goals when you don't have the ball much. Only issue is that we're ripe for the picking on the break. But then so are Barcelona.

Whereas what we were doing, especially on corners, was a mystery. This zonal stuff seems like a bad idea!

We are 8 games in.

It will no doubt take the players a bit longer yet to get used to the new system of play.

Yet you'd think by the negative tripe on here that we are in Sunderland's situation. We are in the top 6 for crying out loud.

I think the Internationals took a lot out of Jags and Baines, who looked knackered, both physically and mentally, so am hoping for an improvement next week at the Villa.

Kone just needs time on the pitch – you'll see a great striker there.

I was doing a lot of clock watching over the last 5 minutes of standard time - every time we got the ball we generally held it for two minutes. So with 4 mintues of extra time that gives Hull a maxiumum of 4 attacks in the last 9 minutes of play. This makes for much more comfortable viewing than 3 attacks a minute which we were putting up with last season at the end of tight games we were leading.