Abel on the Marc as Silva’s off to flyer
HULL ............... 2 SWANSEA ......... 0
ABEL HERNANDEZ and local boy Josh Tymon gave Hull’s new head coach Marco Silva a winning start and a place in the FA Cup Fourth Round.
Substitute Hernandez marked his first appearance since being sidelined by a hamstring injury in early November, with a 78th-minute opener.
And teenager Tymon grabbed his first senior goal with virtually the last kick of the game – just a minute after stepping off the bench.
The goals meant Paul Clement’s first game in charge of Swansea ended in defeat – but both Silva and Clement face uphill tasks to turn around the fortunes of their clubs.
It was played out in front of a crowd of just 6,608 due to a pre-planned boycott by Hull fans in protest against club owners the Allam family.
And Silva said: “It’s important that our fans believe in our team because we need help.
“I hope in the next home game against Bournemouth there will be more people to help support us to try and win the game.”
The two sides who prop up the Premier League produced an absorbing cup tie.
Sam Clucas headed narrowly wide for Hull and Jake Livermore just failed to get on the end of a Robert Snodgrass cross.
Tigers keeper Eldin Jakupovic kept out Swansea’s best chance before the break when he brilliantly blocked Ki Sung-yueng’s volley following Borja Baston’s flick-on.
Ki thought he had fired the Swans ahead in the second half with a brilliant shot on the turn but Jakupovic somehow pushed the ball on to a post.
And it was the Tigers who broke the deadlock in the 78th minute, as Hernandez swooped to turn the ball home from six yards.
Tymon had the final word, racing into the box and firing a low shot in off the post.
Swans boss Clement said: “I thought the game was quite even. We defended pretty well for the most part and the scoreline flattered them a little bit.”