Coca-Cola League One

DEFENSIVE blunders again proved costly as lacklustre Latics made it three defeats from four in Coca Cola League One action.

Brian Talbot's men found themselves two goals behind for the third successive game and this was by far their least impressive response.

Unchanged from the side that beat Walsall, they made a bright opening and almost led inside two minutes at the KC Stadium.

Goalkeeper Boaz Myhill managed to divert Mark Bonner's cross away from Rodney Jack and Jermaine Johnson before skipper Dean Holden's fierce goalbound shot was deflected agonisingly wide.

But Latics again toiled to hold possession and the front pairing of Johnson and Jack - both returning from Caribbean trips for World Cup qualifying action - looked leadenfooted and unable to spark.

In truth, Peter Taylor's side themselves were solid rather than spectacular but got on top as their hardworking midfield quartet began to boss proceedings.

They first went close on seven minutes when a stinging 30-yard Stuart Green shot was pushed around the post by Les Pogliacomi.

And the hosts ruthlessly capitalised on an unfortunate slip on 28 minutes as Holden lost his footing. Nick Barmby nipped in to rob the ball and squared for Danny Allsopp to slot under Les Pogliacomi from 10 yards.

There was a brief riposte on the half-hour when David Eyres was adjudged offside in heading against the bar, but Latics offered very little going forward after that.

Centre-half Leon Cort saw Pogliacomi tip his header around the post before Hull effectively secured victory in first-half stoppage time after another calamitous error.

Instead of kicking the ball downfield, Pogliacomi opted to throw to the under-pressure Holden, who was dispossessed. Stuart Elliott crossed, Allsopp laid the ball off and it sat up invitingly for Stuart Green to fire a rocketlauncher 25-yard shot into the bottom corner.

Talbot introduced 17-year-old Matty Barlow in place of Johnson at the break and Jack soon departed for Matty Appleby, but the changes failed to galvanise his side.

At the opposite end of the field, Marc Joseph fluffed his shot when well-placed and Cort also threatened with a venomous shot palmed wide by Pogliacomi on 63 minutes.

And symptomatic of Latics' lack of firepower, debutant substitute goalkeeper Matt Duke - on for the injured Myhill for the final 11 minutes - did not have a single save to make as Hull coasted to victory.

HULL: Myhill (Duke 79 mins), Joseph, Dawson, Cort, Delaney, Green, Ashbee, Lewis, Elliott (Facey 72 mins), Allsopp (Walters 61 mins), Barmby. Subs (not used): Keane, France.

OLDHAM: Pogliacomi, Holden, Griffin, Bonner, Haining, Arber, Boshell, Jack (Appleby 72 mins), Eyre, Johnson (Barlow 46 mins), Eyres. Subs (not used): Mawson, Tierney, Beharall.

Attendance: 16,916.

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