Hull vs Manchester United a few quick thoughts
Dan Tracey
January 27, 2017
2,170 Views
- So we now know the two teams that will be taking part in the EFL Cup Final at the end of the month
- As Manchester United booked their place at Wembley last night
- But the Evening did not go according to the script as Hull gave them something of a fright at The KCom Stadium
- Going into the game Hull’s preparations would have been sidetracked with the ongoing transfer saga of Robert Snodgrass, with a move away now looking imminent
- But Marco Silva’s man were not to that let any transfer talk effect them and they gave a spirited performace in front of their own fans last night
- They perhaps gave themselves too much to do from the first leg but they certainly made life difficult for Jose Mourinho
- The game was going through the motions in the first half hour or so but it finally came to life thanks to a slightly contentious penalty
- Once again it was John Moss who pointed to the spot after his brace of spot kick awards at The Emirates on Sunday
- It was arguably a soft decision after Marcos Rojo was ajudged to have pulled the shirt of Harry Maguire, not that Hull fans would have cared all that much
- It was left for Tom Huddlestone to coolly slam the ball past David De Gea and all of a sudden we had a game on our hands
- Moments later though it was nearly all over again as Hull searched for a second
- With them caught on the break a charging run from Zlatan Ibrahimovic saw him drive at the heart of the defence
- The mercurial Swede managed to get his shot away but it was expertly saved by David Marshall to make sure the home side went into the break still with their 1-0 advantage
- It was a lacklustre first 45 minutes from United and many thought this was going to be a routine performance but it was far from it
- That said Marcos Rojo nearly leveled matters but his header hit the top of the bar and bounced away from safety
- With an hour or so go Marco Silva felt it was time to roll the dice and he subsequently made some attacking changes
- Both recent signings Lazar Markovic and Evandro were bought in a search of a second but minutes later Hull suffered the hammer blow that all but wrapped things up
- Paul Pogba poked through the legs of Maguire and into the bottom corner from 10 yards. United level on the night and their two goal advantage restored
- But credit must go to Hull as they did not let their heads drop
- Oumar Niasse the forgotten man of Everton after his signature this time last year, showed how useful he may actually be to Hull between the end of the season
- Firstly he hit the woodwork and then minutes later there was to be another twist in the tale.
- He was on hand to convert David Meyler’s cross and we were set for a tense final few minutes
- But try as they might Hull could not find a 3rd goal to take the tie into extra time and it meant United just about came away unscathed
- They may be going to Wembley but there were no real celebrations
- More disappointment that there 17 game unbeaten run has come to an end
- United have not played badly since their Mancheter derby defeat late last year
- But ultimately they are now in a prime position to earn the first silverware of the season and deliver a first major trophy in the Jose Mourinho era
- The focus now shifts to the F.A. Cup where holders United entertain Wigan while Hull make the journey to Fulham
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