Tigers hold on to sink Swans and keep promotion dream alive
FLYING HIGH: Oli McBurnie celebrates his penalty that put City ahead. Pictures courtesy of Hull City
Hull City 2 - 1 Swansea City
Sky Bet Championship
MKM Stadium
Attendance: 21,912
By Sam Hawcroft, Hull City Correspondent
Hull City withstood sustained second-half pressure to overcome a spirited Swansea City and make it three wins in three, edging another step closer to what still feels like the unfathomable dream of automatic promotion.
Kyle Joseph and Joe Gelhardt returned to the starting XI after the impressive midweek win at Preston, while there was also a first glimpse on the bench of City’s latest January addition, attacking midfielder Kieran Dowell, signed on an 18-month deal from Rangers.
(Dowell has already apologised for scoring two hat-tricks against City in previous lives with Nottingham Forest and Wigan – now would be a fine time to start making amends…)
The first moment of note came just three minutes in, when Amir Hadžiahmetović was involved in an off-the-ball clash (which looked accidental) near the left touchline with Gonçalo Franco.
ON TARGET: Regan Slater, centre, scored a screamer from outside the box to double City’s lead
The midfielder went down clutching his neck and shoulder and received a few minutes of treatment, during which the first chorus of “Yuuuuuu” rang out as City’s new – and first – Japanese signing Yu Hirakawa warmed up on the touchline. Amir was soon back on his feet and able to continue.
City were the brighter side early on, without carving out much in the way of clear chances. An eighth-minute corner was cleared, before former Tiger Josh Tymon embarked on a long run down the other end, only to be stopped by Gelhardt, who then fed Charlie Hughes. His ambitious cross-field ball found Liam Millar, but the move fizzled out with no one able to meet the delivery in the box.
Swansea had a warning of their own in the 13th minute when they forced a corner, and from it there was a moment of confusion in the City area, allowing Ben Cabango a free header from close range. He nodded it over, a let-off that briefly lifted the 300 or so in the away end.
The game struggled to find a rhythm, becoming a bit stop-start with a succession of free kicks. Then in the 22nd minute, Cameron Burgess was booked for a late challenge on Gelhardt around 25 yards out – and Regan Slater, by now advancing into the area with the ball, was visibly annoyed that the referee declined to play advantage.
INSTANT HIT: New signing Yu Hirakawa already has fans singing his name
That frustration evaporated moments later, though, when Swansea pressed the self-destruct button.
From Amir’s free kick, Cabango inexplicably handled in the area, his rising digits probably visible from space. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Up stepped Oli McBurnie – once a prolific Swansea striker himself – and he thumped it into the bottom-left corner for his 11th league goal of the season.
City almost doubled the lead shortly afterwards, Lawrence Vigouroux racing out to deny Joseph inside the area.
Then came one of the misses of the season – you could say an all-timer. Tymon whipped in a low ball and Žan Vipotnik, from just a few yards out, somehow failed to hit the target with the goal gaping. Head in hands, groans from the away fans – and enormous relief around the MKM.
The noise lifted noticeably after that. Millar swung in another dangerous cross on 35 minutes, but John Egan could not make clean contact.
Remarkably, Vipotnik then missed again. Another Tymon cross, another close-range opportunity, slightly more awkward this time as he was under challenge from Egan, but still one he should have buried. Instead it went wide once again, drawing a mix of disbelief and ironic cheers from the North Stand. This was the league’s leading scorer on 13 goals, let’s not forget, but we all have our off days…
City were playing with real intent. Gelhardt saw a shot saved, Millar fired over, and then forced Vigouroux into another stop as the MKM came alive. There was belief in the stands now, the sense that something special might be brewing – and this was matched on the pitch. These are players who believe they can win.
THE BOSS: Sergej Jakirovic notches up another win in a hugely impressive first season in charge
Millar then helped create a crucial second for City.
Driving down the left, his ball into the area was only partially cleared and dropped to Amir, who took the slightest of touches to play in Regan Slater around 20 yards out.
Slater took a touch and wrapped his right foot around it, sending a fierce, unerring strike into the net, leaving Vigouroux with no chance. What an absolute beauty! One to stick on repeat.
However, Swansea emerged with renewed purpose after the break, and immediately put City under pressure. Substitute Josh Key almost caught Ivor Pandur out with a cross-shot that the keeper beat away, a sign of what was to come. The next goal would, of course, be crucial – 3-0 and City would be cruising, 2-1 and it would be game on.
City made their first changes in the 55th minute. Gelhardt was replaced by John Lundstram, and Millar made way for Hirakawa, whose home debut was greeted by an even louder chorus of “Yuuuuuu”.
Seconds later Pandur was forced into a fine reaction save from Ronald, and by now City were struggling to get out of their own half. Yu nearly broke clear on the counter, but was checked as Swansea continued to swarm forward.
Just before the hour, the pressure told. From a corner, Liam Cullen glanced a close-range header beyond Pandur to halve the deficit. Game most certainly on.
The match opened up slightly after that. Five minutes later Egan was left thrashing the turf in frustration as his diving header drifted just wide of the right post.
At the other end, substitute Malick Stamenić tried his luck from distance with a Slater-esque effort, but Pandur was equal to it, pushing the ball away.
Yu was then fouled on the edge of the area by Key, who was booked – a marginally deeper challenge and it would surely have been another penalty to City. In the end, Amir’s free kick floated beyond everyone.
With 20 minutes to go, City made another double change, David Akintola and Matty Jacob replacing McBurnie and Amir as the hosts looked to shore things up.
In the 74th minute, Yu produced a moment of real excitement, surging through midfield and unleashing a shot that Vigouroux did well to parry. Joseph was inches away from tapping in the rebound, but the Swansea keeper recovered brilliantly. It should really have been 3-1.
The closing stages were tense, and there was a hush around the stadium. Akintola was crowded out by a swarm of Swansea shirts as he tried to break into the area, while Pandur made another smart save from Melker Widell in the 87th minute. City were hanging on.
Joseph eventually made way for Dowell for the final few minutes, the midfielder making his Tigers debut as Swansea continued to probe. Three minutes of added time were announced – much to the displeasure of the visitors – but the North Stand found their voice, began to bounce, and roared City on.
The Tigers held firm.
Five points off the automatic promotion places with a game in hand. The thoughts that once felt unthinkable are now creeping out into the open, even as everyone tries not to say them too loudly. What is beyond doubt is that the turnaround has been extraordinary. After the chaos of last season, simply being in this lofty position feels quite something.
City looked stretched in the second half, understandably so after a busy week. Now they have a full week to prepare for the trip to Blackburn – and if nothing else, it surely cannot be as interminably dull as the two sides’ recent FA Cup meeting.