City finally made it through in the FA Cup after a long afternoon at the MKM Stadium
Amir Hadziahmetovic of Hull City is put under pressure by Brandon Powell of Blackburn Rovers (Image: Getty Images)
Dillon Phillips saved twice in the shootout to allow David Akintola to score the winning penalty as Hull City beat Blackburn Rovers 4-3 on penalties in the FA Cup after a drab 0-0 draw.
A dreadful half dressed up as FA Cup football did little to lift the spirits of the 6,000 or so who had braved the freezing temperatures and torrential rain to venture out on Sunday afternoon.
City were improved in the second half without really looking like scoring. In extra time, Oli McBurnie saw a header saved before David Akintola crunched an effort off the bar,
Here’s how Tigers reporter Barry Cooper rated the players at the MKM Stadium on Sunday afternoon….
Dillon Phillips: A first start since the Carabao Cup exit at Wrexham in August. Doesn’t seem to want to come for any crosses, which is a concern. Didn’t look overly assured with his feet, albeit on a tough playing surface. Made a good save in extra time, the only one he shot. Two big saves in the shootout. 8/10
Lewie Coyle: Played on the left side of the back four, and wearing his Petr Cech-style head guard, managed to get one cross in first half which Millar headed over. Saw his penalty saved. 7/10
Akin Famewo: Decent enough on what looked like a difficult pitch. Booked in the second half for a lunge when Rovers looked to counter. A decent showing ion fairness, albeit against a limited attack. 7/10
Charlie Hughes: Saw plenty of the ball, but all of it in areas where Blackburn were happy with. Great ball in for McBurnie’s header in the first half of extra time. Scored his kick. 7/10
Cody Drameh: A really ropey start, didn’t look at all comfortable. The time when he ran forward and left the ball behind probably summed up his display, before he was booked. Improved in the second after he took his tights off, shooting wide. Came off injured in extra time. 6/10
Darko Gyabi: Barely had a touch of the ball before he went down in a pile in the middle of the park, head in hands. After a spell of treatment and being consoled by Liam Millar, he limped off. 6/10
Amir Hadziahmetovic: Showed some neat touches as normal, but then like we’ve seen in the Championship, has an uncanny ability to give the ball away in daft areas. His corner in the final minute of normal time which hit the near post summed up the game. 6/10
Kasey Palmer: A late change after Matt Crooks felt his hamstring, but was probably the one City player who started brightly. He saw a couple of shots blocked and made some decent blocks. Not much to report in the second period. 6/10
Liam Millar: A few bright moments in what was up there with the dullest halves of football in living memory. Faded in the second half, with nothing coming off, and he looked like a player who had been out for the best part of a year. 5/10
Joel Ndala: Offered very little in truth. Gave the ball away cheaply and never really got at his man in the first half. Had a good chance second half but blazed over. 5/10
Oli McBurnie: Tried to get involved in a drab opening period. Lacked any kind of service and therefore was ineffective early on. Forced a good save from Toth in extra time. Bagged his spot kick. 6/10
Subs:
Regan Slater (for Gyabi 11): His afternoon off lasted barely 10 minutes, coming on for the stricken Gyabi. Probably no exaggeration to say he was City’s best player. Clattered inside the box in extra-time, no penalty.Booked in the closing stages. 7/10
Kyle Joseph (for Ndala 81): Headed over in extra time from Coyle’s cross. Slotted in his penalty nicely. 7/10
David Akintola (for Palmer 81): Couldn’t sort his feet out at the back post from Millar’s swinging cross. Was lively, though, and hit the woodwork in extra time. Scored the winning kick. 8/10
Cathal McCarthy (for Millar 90): Made a real difference in midfield. Some added enthusiasm and energy. 6/10
John Egan (for Famewo 106): Got involved with a bit of sauciness in extra time, just to liven things up a bit. 6/10
Matty Jacob (for Drameh 111): A first appearance of the season for the left-back, and with his first touch, put a cross out of play. 6/10
Rate the players yourself using the slider below…