City back to winning ways against relegated Owls
Pictures courtesy of Hull City
Hull City 3 - 1 Sheffield Wednesday
Sky Bet Championship
MKM Stadium
Attendance: 22,004
By Sam Hawcroft, Hull City Correspondent
Play-off-chasing Hull City returned to winning ways with a 3–1 victory over rock-bottom Sheffield Wednesday – though it was far from straightforward before the points were secured.
A celebratory feel bookended the occasion, with a pre-match parade of club legends marking the club’s retro-themed fixture. “Someone from every generation,” as announcer Steve Jordan put it, with Frankie Banks, Ron Young, Wayne Jacobs, Garreth Roberts, John Hawley, Michael Turner, Stuart Green, Stan McEwan, Justin Whittle, Nick Barmby and Ken Wagstaff all taking part.
On the warmest day at the MKM so far this year, the East Stand was bathed in sunshine, and supporters took the opportunity to dust off shirts from across the decades.
The visitors, already relegated and with just one win all season, still brought a loud and loyal following, packing out the north-west corner.
Sergej Jakirović made three changes, with Cody Drameh, Paddy McNair and Kyle Joseph starting. Charlie Hughes was suspended after his red card at West Brom. With Lewie Coyle on the bench after limping off at the Hawthorns, Regan Slater captained the side.
It was a lively enough start without clear chances. City shaded possession in the opening exchanges and came closest in the 12th minute when Oli McBurnie forced a sharp save from Pierce Charles at close range.
Wednesday won a couple of corners of their own, but the pressure came to nothing and the game drifted into a slightly scrappy spell.
Then came a moment that felt all too familiar for students of the phenomenon known as #TypicalCity – the Owls took the lead. A loose ball in the area wasn’t properly cleared by John Egan or McBurnie, and Jamal Lowe nipped in to finish from 12 yards.
The home fans had barely got their heads out of their hands when City responded 90 seconds later.
McBurnie showed good strength to retain possession just outside the area and fed Joseph on the right. His low cross was met by Matt Crooks, who calmly side-footed home from six yards to level.
There was a blow soon after as Slater went down injured in the North Stand penalty area and was eventually forced off, with John Lundstram replacing him and Egan taking over the captaincy.
A spirited Wednesday, with little to lose, continued to give it their best shot, and had moments where a more clinical side might have punished City further. A wayward effort from Lowe served as a reminder that the Tigers still looked vulnerable.
City went close again before the break, McBurnie inches away from connecting with a low delivery from Liam Millar, while Ivor Pandur was called into action to make a low save from Jarvis Thornton during five minutes of added time.
Then, right at the end of the half, the Tigers took the lead.
A free kick from around 25 yards on the left was delivered superbly by McNair into the six-yard box, where Dominic Iorfa could only head into his own net under pressure.
McBurnie wheeled away in celebration as though it were his, but no matter – City went in ahead at the break, albeit after making heavy weather of the opening 45 minutes.
The second half began in similarly scrappy fashion, though City gradually started to assert more control. McBurnie saw an effort blocked early on after good work again from Millar.
The crucial third goal arrived in the 57th minute. After Wednesday lost possession under pressure from Joe Gelhardt near the halfway line, Joseph picked up the loose ball and combined neatly with McBurnie before being released into the area. He kept his composure to stroke the ball into the net and give City much-needed breathing space.
From there, the Tigers looked more comfortable. Drameh’s persistence nearly created a fourth for McBurnie, only for a timely defensive intervention – though the flag was up in any case.
There was a spell of pressure around the hour mark where City threatened to extend their lead further. McBurnie again went close during a scramble in the box, while Gelhardt had the ball in the net shortly after a lovely ball over the top from Joseph, but was again ruled offside.
Changes followed in the 69th minute, with Gelhardt and Millar replaced by Amir Hadžiahmetović and Lewis Koumas. Incidentally, the latter could be facing each other next Thursday when Wales take on Bosnia in the World Cup play-off semi-final.
With 15 minutes remaining, the defiant Wednesday fans broke into a prolonged chant of “Wednesday get battered, everywhere we go”, which they pretty much kept up until the bitter end. When you have nothing else, there’s always gallows humour…
Further substitutions saw Mohamed Belloumi replace Crooks, before Kieran Dowell came on for Joseph.
Belloumi nearly bagged a goal late on, forcing a good save from Charles before striking the post in the closing stages.
It wasn’t a polished performance and at times looked unconvincing, but the Tigers got the job done – and with the international break looming, this was a result that will go some way towards settling nerves, even if they need to shape up for the final run-in.