City stretch unbeaten run to 11 against The Hornets

Pictures courtesy of Hull City

Hull City 0 - 0 Watford

Sky Bet Championship

MKM Stadium

Attendance: 20,441

By Sam Hawcroft, Hull City Correspondent

Hull City stretched their unbeaten run to 11 with a goalless draw against Watford on a bitter night at the MKM Stadium – a match short on quality but one that still keeps the Tigers firmly in the hunt for automatic promotion.

It was low on entertainment, often scrappy – but this is the Championship, and nights like this are part of the landscape. A clean sheet, a point gained against an organised Watford side who did enough to nick it.

Proceedings began in slightly surreal fashion, kick-off delayed by a few minutes after a football-shaped hole was discovered in one corner of the net at the North Stand end.

With memories of January’s last-minute match abandonment still fresh, the Watford fans could be forgiven for fearing the worst as a couple of staff were summoned to carry out some impromptu remedial work. Out came the crochet needles, a bit of frantic stitching ensued, and eventually we were good to go.

Sergej Jakirović made three changes from the win at Blackburn Rovers for this rearranged fixture, with Watford once again newly managerless – on the plus side, though, only six more Watford managers to Christmas, eh, fellas!

Matty Jacob made his first start for City in almost a year at left-back, while January arrival Kieran Dowell and winger Yū Hirakawa were handed full debuts. The sight of Ryan Giles back on the bench after a month out with a hamstring issue was warmly received, even if his reappearance would come later.

The opening exchanges were subdued. Watford shaded possession without really testing Ivor Pandur, though there was a brief spark in the seventh minute when Hirakawa surged at Jeremy Ngakia and went to ground on the edge of the area. The appeal for a penalty was optimistic at best and quickly waved away.

Hirakawa was involved again six minutes later, played in neatly by Jacob only for his effort to be blocked and turned behind for a corner. The set piece was worked short and eventually fell to Joe Gelhardt, who arguably should have done better from around 12 yards, lifting his shot over the bar.

As the 20-minute mark passed, City were struggling to impose themselves. Watford looked the sharper side and went close when Imran Louza curled a shot just past the near post, close enough to prompt angry appeals for a corner after what the visitors felt was a slight touch off John Egan.

Moments later, Pandur was forced into action, palming away a firm strike from Giorgi Chakvetadze before watching Stephen Mfuni’s header drift just wide. It was becoming increasingly uncomfortable for the Tigers, prompting a rousing chorus of “Come on City” from the North Stand just after the half-hour as the home side continued to labour.

Mfuni was booked in the 34th minute for a foul on Gelhardt and City briefly threatened when Egil Selvik fumbled the resulting free kick, though the chance came to nothing. It was scrappy, stop-start stuff, and hardly ideal viewing on a freezing night.

City survived another scare in the 43rd minute when Egan threw himself in the way of Mamadou Doumbia’s drive towards the near post. From the resulting corner, Mfuni was again afforded too much freedom.

During the single minute of first-half added time, Selvik produced a spectacular save to deny a bullet header from Hughes. Now, that really would have come out of almost nowhere, but as it was, there was no time for the corner and the interval arrived as something of a relief.

There were no immediate changes after the break, suggesting Jakirović had delivered his message in the dressing room.

City emerged with a bit more intent and went close six minutes in when Regan Slater almost repeated his thunderbolt against Swansea, flicked into space by Dowell before Selvik got the faintest of touches to push it over.

That moment briefly lifted the tempo, but Watford continued to find too much room in advanced areas. Slater tried to spark a break on 55 minutes, only for Gelhardt’s pass to be easily cut out, the move symptomatic of a side still lacking fluency.

Selvik endured a nervy spell just before the hour, flapping at another Gelhardt free kick and colliding with Oli McBurnie in the process, though Watford eventually hacked clear. The keeper stayed down briefly but was soon back on his feet.

The anticipated changes arrived on 60 minutes. Lewis Koumas, the matchwinner at Blackburn, made his home debut in place of Dowell, while John Lundstram replaced Amir Hadžiahmetović.

City were soon under pressure again, Charlie Hughes producing a crucial block to deny Louza at the far post, before Watford somehow failed to take the lead in the 67th minute.

A rapid break left City outnumbered, the ball cut back invitingly to Louza, who somehow dragged his effort wide. It was a huge let-off.

Further changes followed in the 74th minute, Liam Millar replacing Jacob, and Giles making his return from injury in place of Gelhardt.

There was at least a hint of promise when Lewie Coyle floated a cross towards McBurnie, but the striker could not generate enough power on his header and Selvik claimed comfortably. Millar then broke clear on to a superb pass from Koumas, only to fire over with the flag raised anyway.

Giles was booked for a challenge 25 yards out soon after, Louza’s free kick striking the wall, while Kyle Joseph replaced Hirakawa with eight minutes remaining as the contest drifted steadily towards its inevitable conclusion.

Watford continued to probe, Edo Kayembe firing wide in the 88th minute after again being afforded far too much time and space, before six minutes of added time were announced. (“We want six more minutes of this!” said no one ever.)

There were a few nervy moments as sliced clearances and panicked headers peppered the closing stages, but City held firm to see out the stalemate.