Cardiff City 1-0 Hull City

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Blog, Cardiff City, Cardiff City Stadium, Championship, Football, Hull City, News, Soccer, Sol Bamba

16 December 2017

A goal from Sol Bamba gave Cardiff a narrow victory over Hull to keep up the pressure on Championship leaders Wolves.

Cardiff were quite poor in the first half, as we over-played quite a few times. Nouha Dicko tested Neil Etheridge early on, but it was a comfortable save for Etheridge. Dicko came very close to scoring soon after that, as he hit the post from a difficult angle.

With about half an hour played, Lee Tomlin had an effort saved from close range. If he’d hit it either side of the keeper it would’ve gone in but, he hit it straight at the keeper. Tomlin had another very good chance in the first half, but this time he sliced the ball over the bar from inside the box.

Cardiff came out much stronger in the second half, and Junior Hoilett came very close to heading in after Sol Bamba had headed across the face of goal.

In the 57th minute, Cardiff took the lead through Bamba. From a Tomlin cross, Anthony Pilkington flicked it on to Bamba, who headed in past Allan McGregor, who was on loan at Cardiff last season. Bamba was fantastic all game.

The closest Hull came to an equaliser was a wayward long-range effort from Sen Larsson. Only a Michael Dawson block prevented Tomlin from doubling Cardiff’s lead.

In the end Cardiff held on to extend the unbeaten home record and to remain only four points off leaders Wolves. The Bluebirds did really well considering they have nine first team players injured.

Whilst Cardiff are second, Hull are 19th, five points above the relegation zone. Next up for the Bluebirds is a trip to Bolton next Saturday, the 23 December. Hopefully we can continue our winning form.

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Manchester United 0-0 Hull City

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Blog, Football, Hull City, Manchester United, News, Premier League, Soccer

United were frustrated at home, with Hull holding them to a 0-0 draw.

Eldin Jakupovic made loads of saves to deny United. In the first half, he made brilliant saves to deny Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s long shot and Paul Pogba’s driving effort. This was frustrating United. Hull also had a few chances to win the game. Harry Maguire should’ve done better with a header, but he put it wide.

They had more chances in the second half, with Ibrahimovic hooking wide. Jakupovic’s best save was denying Juan Mata, when he was a few yards out and should’ve scored. He also kept out Pogba’s curler. Marcus Rashford had a really good chance after controlling the ball well from Pogba’s pass, but he scuffed wide.

Hull could’ve won it late on, but Lazar Markovic hit the post with a clipped shot and Abel Hernandez struck tamely at David de Gea. United can only have themselves to blame for this, missing plenty of chances. They can also have only themselves to blame if they fail to get Champions League football for the second successive year. This is another game which they have drawn where they have dominated.

United could’ve closed the gap to the top four, with all of the top four dropping points, but they are now four points adrift of fourth-placed Liverpool. They have extended their unbeaten run to 14 games in the league, but they won’t be happy with this draw, their third in a row.

Next up for United is a trip to champions Leicester. Hopefully they can get back to winning ways.

Hull City 2-1 Manchester United (AGG 2-3)

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Blog, EFL Cup, Football, Hull City, Manchester United, News, Paul Pogba, Soccer, Tom Huddlestone

Man United lost 2-1 in the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final, but go through to the final through winning 3-2 on aggregate.

United didn’t play well on the night and had to work hard against a determined Hull side. They struggled to impose themselves. In the 35th minute, Harry Maguire fell in the penalty box after a pull from Marcos Rojo. It was a quite a soft penalty as Maguire went down very easily. Tom Huddlestone put away the penalty. Straight after the goal, Zlatan Ibrahimovic went the other end and nearly scored, but David Marshall made a good save. Hull had more possession than United in the first half.

United should’ve had a penalty in the second half, but the ref didn’t give one, even though Chris Smalling got pushed to the floor by Huddlestone, similarly to the Hull penalty. In the 66th minute, Marcus Rashford ran past a couple of players, before Huddlestone poked the ball into the path of Paul Pogba, who poked into the bottom corner through Maguire’a legs.

After the goal, Rojo headed against the bar for United and Oumar Niasse also hit the woodwork for Hull. But, from David Meyler’s cross, Niasse turned the ball in to set up a tense finale. But, United held on and United can go into the final looking to win their fifth League Cup. Although they are through, they had less shots and less possession than Hull. They were probably deservedly beaten.

United have had their 17-match unbeaten run, but they won’t care too much. It will be tough for them though, as they were meant to play Man City on the day of the final, so the depth of the squad will be tested. The final is on the 26th of February.

Next up for United, they are playing Wigan at home in the FA Cup on Sunday, the 29th of January. Hopefully they can progress to the next round

Manchester United 2-0 Hull City

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Blog, EFL Cul, Football, Hull City, Juan Mata, Manchester United, Marouane Fellaini, News, Old Trafford, Soccer

Man United have one foot in the EFL Cup final after a 2-0 win over Hull.

Hull were resilient in the first half and frustrated United. Wayne Rooney nearly got the goal to take him above Sir Bobby Charlton as top scorer inside 10 minutes, but Andrew Robertson beat him to the ball after Marcus Rashford had scuffed it across goal. Also in the first half, Juan Mata had a shot saved by Eldon Jakupovic and Paul Pogba also had a long shot saved.

Hull also had chances even though United were dominating. Diomande hit the post from a Robert Snodgrass set-piece, who was causing a lot of problems with his crosses. United were dominating, but Hull still posed a threat.

In the second half, Rooney had another chance to break the record, but he fired wide after being picked out by Pogba. He will now have to wait till Sunday’s game at home to Liverpool for another chance to break it, as he was subbed off for Anthony Martial just before the hour mark. United finally got the breakthrough in the 56th minute through Mata. Henrick Mkhitaryan jumped highest at the back post to knockdown for Mata to tap in.

It looked like Hull would only be a goal behind going into the second leg, and still very much in the tie. But, in the 87th minute, Matteo Darmian crossed in for Marouane Fellaini to head in. It now may be too big of a challenge for Hull, who are trying to avoid relegation as well. Hull could only name six substitutes for this math as they have suffered a lot this season with injuries. They did put in a good performance though and they will have confidence in the fight against relegation.

The second leg is on Thursday, the 26th of January. Next up for United in the league is Liverpool at home on Sunday, the 15th of January. Hopefully they can continue their winning form.