Up and running: Tigers stun Red Devils with historic win on Premier League return
WHAT A DEBUT! Record signing Nobel Mendy, right, celebrates scoring City’s second with defensive partner John Egan. Pictures courtesy of Hull City
Hull City 2 - 0 Manchester United
Premier League
MKM Stadium
Attendance: 24,470
By Sam Hawcroft, Hull City Correspondent
You have to go back 52 years for the last time Hull City beat Manchester United in the league.
Back then, in November 1974, Mally Lord and Ken Wagstaff were the scorers in a 2-0 victory at Boothferry Park.
Today, Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy wrote their names into City history as the Tigers marked their Premier League return with another 2-0 win over United – this time at a raucous MKM Stadium.
And make no mistake, while United were certainly never at the races, this was a fully deserved victory for a composed and impressive Tigers side.
FIRST BLOOD: Oli McBurnie, left, helps Semi Ajayi celebrate his opener
Brave on the ball, organised without it (and they were without it a fair bit, United “enjoying” the lion’s share of possession) and carrying a genuine threat going forward, Sergej Jakirovic’s side fully merited a victory that immediately made a few pre-season predictions look rather silly.
“We support our local team” was already ringing out from the North Stand inside the opening 30 seconds and, if there were nerves among the home support about what life back among the elite might look like, the players showed precious few.
Bruno Fernandes almost found a way through for United inside three minutes but City recovered well and there was early encouragement at the other end when Mohamed Belloumi released Lewie Coyle down the right.
The skipper raced to the byline and delivered towards Oli McBurnie at the far post, although the referee’s whistle cut short the danger.
BATTLE OF THE BOSSES: Sergej Jakirovic came out on top against Michael Carrick
Most importantly, there was nothing in those opening exchanges to suggest City were going to be overwhelmed.
Impressive new keeper Konstantinos Tzolakis was called into action in the 13th minute when Bryan Mbeumo met an awkward dropping ball, the Greek producing a fine save. Matheus Cunha then sent a more comfortable effort into his arms.
Within moments the action had switched to the other end.
McBurnie rose to meet a delivery and powered a header towards goal, forcing Senne Lammens into an excellent full-stretch save to his right.
IMPRESSIVE: Konstantinos Tzolakis deserved the clean sheet on his debut
The noise levels rose another notch – and two minutes later the roof almost came off.
Ryan Giles had already forced City’s first corner after another promising move and Regan Slater sent the resulting set-piece into a crowded penalty area. United failed to deal with it, McBurnie initially thought he’d scored before it fell to Ajayi, who smashed the ball home from close range.
Ajayi wheeled away and the stadium erupted as the reality sank in: Hull City were 1-0 up against Manchester United in the Premier League. On the opening day!
More impressively, City did not retreat. They continued to play, continued to press and continued to look capable of hurting a United side who appeared increasingly uncomfortable with the intensity of the contest.
NO WAY THROUGH: United captain Bruno Fernandes is squeezed out
Shortly after the half-hour mark, the North Stand was already breaking into gleeful olés as the Tigers threaded the ball around with growing confidence. There was still the lingering thought that United must surely have another gear somewhere. But if that gear existed, they could not find it.
Instead, in the 38th minute, things got even better. Belloumi was fouled around 25 yards from goal and Slater stood over the free kick. His superb delivery was attacked by new signing Mendy, whose glancing header flew beyond Lammens and into the net.
Two-nil. Dreamland!
Now the home support turned their attention to Joe Cole. The former England midfielder had attracted the ire of City fans before the season after dismissing the Tigers’ survival chances and claiming they had come into the Premier League “through the back door”. Now came the response from the North Stand: “Are you watching, Joe Cole?”
IN CONTROL: Regan Slater had a fine game in midfield
At half-time, Carrick introduced Marcus Rashford for Patrick Dorgu. Surely now the expected United onslaught would begin. But it never really did.
A free kick from a similar position to the one that had produced City’s second goal was comfortably cleared and the Tigers continued to look remarkably composed.
In the 56th minute Belloumi slipped Matt Crooks through and Lammens had to read the danger quickly, racing from his line before the City midfielder could lift the ball beyond him.
Approaching the hour, City were pouring forward again. Another flowing move ended with Giles trying to find Slater, only for a crucial intervention to deny the midfielder a sight of goal. Belloumi then fizzed a 20-yard effort over the crossbar.
KEEP IT TIGHT: Debutant Lucas Herrington, left, keeping the door shut with Paddy McNair
Jakirovic made his first changes in the 64th minute, with Mendy and Ajayi – City’s two goalscorers – replaced by Lucas Herrington and Paddy McNair. Cody Drameh then came on for Coyle before Liam Millar replaced Elliot Stroud.
United continued searching for a route back into the game but City refused to buckle.
Belloumi, excellent throughout, came agonisingly close to adding a third when another effort flashed inches wide of the left-hand post. By now the afternoon had moved beyond merely memorable and into the realms of tremendous fun for the home crowd.
To add insult to United fans’ injury, stadium announcer Steve Jordan informed supporters that trains back to Manchester at 3pm and 5pm had been cancelled. This news was greeted with huge cheers, followed inevitably by: “You’re going home in a taxi.”
United enjoyed plenty of possession as the clock ticked down but still very little of substance came from it.
Tzolakis stood firm when Mbeumo finally found some space late on and City dealt calmly with the handful of other balls thrown into their penalty area.
WORTH THE WAIT: Fans celebrate the first league win over United for 52 years
There was no frantic siege. No succession of desperate goal-line clearances, nor any sense that the Tigers were hanging on. They were simply seeing the game out.
Six minutes of stoppage time were announced but even that failed to raise the tension significantly. United looked beaten and increasingly knew it.
“You’re getting mauled by the Tigers” rang around the MKM. Tradition might dictate that this chant is reserved for three goals or more, but on this occasion, an exception could probably be permitted.
The final whistle confirmed City’s first league victory over Manchester United since that 1974 meeting – and their first against them in the top flight.
Nine years away from the Premier League. Fifty-two years waiting to beat Manchester United again… one afternoon to remind everybody that the Tigers are not back simply to make up the numbers.