Brad Rial picks out his five key talking points from the 2-1 Europa League win over AS Trencin, as Hull City prepare for next weekend's Premier League opener at QPR.Sone Aluko is back
If anyone needed a goal on Thursday night, it was Sone Aluko. The City man has endured a difficult 2014 so far and his strike against AS Trencin could prove to be the catalyst for a productive season ahead.
It was his first goal since last September and his first at the KC since November 2012 – some drought for a player of his quality, even when taking into account his injury problems.
The introductions of Aluko and Tom Ince provided City with an added spark, just as they were starting to look short of ideas in the final third. That bit of flair and guile around the box was missing from their game for long periods and, ultimately, it was the classy finish of Aluko that settled the tie.
There may have been a temptation to lash at the ball as it came over his head from Robert Snodgrass's header; he didn't have much time to think about what he was going to do with it and the pressure of the moment could quite easily have got to him.
But he showed a coolness in front of goal that had eluded his teammates earlier on in the game by guiding the ball home with his weaker right foot.
If he can stay injury-free (as he's struggled to do in his City career to date) and enjoy a sustained run of games, I have no doubt he will shine. A fully fit Sone Aluko is some weapon for City to have in their armoury.Yannick Sagbo can make an impact in Premier League
Yannick Sagbo was named the supporters' man of the match on Thursday night and deservedly so. Steve Bruce opted to play him centrally and it paid off as he put in a brilliant performance.
Sagbo's display shouldn't come as a surprise. It's easy to forget that prior to the arrivals of Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long in January, the Ivorian didn't do too much wrong when leading the City line.
If it weren't for the profligacy of his teammates, he would have had three assists on Thursday night. First, his headed flick set Shane Long through on goal, but the Irishman prodded an effort too close to the 'keeper.
Then, he held up the ball brilliantly before setting up Robert Snodgrass, whose scuffed shot found Long, and the Irishman really should have scored, either from the initial shot or from the rebound.
Finally, it was Sagbo's header from a corner who found – you guessed it, Long – who somehow saw his own header saved from point-blank range. All of City's good play in the first half came through Sagbo and if he had any hair on his head to pull out he would have done so.
Sagbo should get plenty of opportunities in the cup competitions this season but his performance on Thursday may just put him in with a shout of starting against QPR in the Premier League opener next week.Robert Snodgrass can become a fans' favourite
Robert Snodgrass made his full debut for the Tigers against Trencin and he put in a good shift. The Scot looked a little sluggish in the opening stages (as did the whole team, in fairness) but he grew into the game and the City supporters will have left the stadium pleased with what they saw from the new man.
Snodgrass started the game centrally, just behind Sagbo and Long, and it seemed Steve Bruce had given him a licence to roam. As such, there were times when he and Elmo seemed to get in each other's way down City's right.
So it was no surprise to see him pop up more on the left as the match developed, and it was from there he helped set up both goals. He played a neat one-two with Robbie Brady for City's first and laid on a perfectly cushioned header for Aluko's all-important winner.
The early signs suggest that Snodgrass could become a fans' favourite at the KC. On Thursday, he didn't look like one to shirk defensive responsibilities as he put in a number of crunching challenges. English football fans love nothing more than a player who gets stuck in and Snodgrass's efforts were duly applauded.Robbie Brady needed the game for his match-fitness
It's fair to say that Robbie Brady's first start of the calendar year was a bit hit and miss. For the first twenty minutes or so on Thursday night, Brady just couldn't do anything right.
He couldn't find a teammate with a pass, his first touch was off and he was caught out on more than one occasion defensively, as exemplified by Trencin's goal.
Of course, it's to be expected that a player will show signs of rustiness after such a long spell on the sidelines, but you'd have to go a long way to find a worse opening to a game than Brady's.
To his credit, he improved. There were signs that the Robbie Brady of old was back and it was he who set up Ahmed Elmohamady with one of his trademark crosses. You can tell that he's still not 100 per cent match-fit but his hour or so on Thursday night will have benefited him hugely. Improvements needed for QPR match
Hull City may have edged their way through against Trencin but there must be an increase in performance levels against QPR next week. The Slovakian side have been praised for their performances over the two legs but let's be honest, City made them look better than they actually are.
Still, Bruce's boys found a way to win and KSC Lokeren are the next opponents on the European tour. A win against the Belgian side would mean progression to the group stages and that would open up the possibility of some of the continent's biggest clubs coming to town. Thursday's victory has certainly whetted the appetite of City fans, that's for sure.
