Hull Host United

This was always going to be a tricky match to be present for as a spectator: I'm a season ticket holder for Hull City, but I've always supported Manchester United.

So when it came to today's match, I honestly wasn't sure which team I wanted to win - sporting allegiance isn't something you can choose, it's invested deep, such that although United winning matches doesn't normally register on the radar (United tend to win a lot), every time they lose it definitely stings.

As the match started out, I found it hard to tune out the subconscious willing of the team in red to score, and I was consciously having to hold back from applauding Giggs (there are many, many good players in United's squad, but Ryan Giggs is a legend amongst legends, and it's just a privilege to see him in person) and the like.

However, as the match wore on, my allegiance shifted until I was most definitely willing on our boys in the Black and Amber...

...unfortunately to little avail: we went down 1-3, despite scoring two goals (sadly, Dawson's was into the wrong net).

I will never understand why Phil Brown leaves his substitutions so late - 10 minutes to go doesn't really allow the new players much time to have an impact, and it's arguable that the match was waaaaaaaay beyond us by that point.

This result sees Hull now sitting 19th in the table, at the season's half-way point. The bottom three get relegated, and honestly, I hold out little hope that we'll be able to match last season's drop-dodging 17th place.