HAVE SAM OF THAT!
EVERY KICK, EVERY GOAL, EVERY Clucas roars for 10-man Tigers
GOAL hero Sam Clucas hopes his stunning strike has knocked the stuffing out of Hull’s relegation rivals.
Clucas volleyed in a screamer as 10-man Hull picked up three precious points against Watford.
The win kept the Tigers ahead of Swansea – their main challengers in the scrap to survive.
Swansea ended a six-match winless run with a victory over Stoke, but Clucas reckons Hull’s win will sap the Swans’ spirit.
He said: “You have players that travel to games that aren’t involved and they’ll have looked at our game, with us down to 10 men, and they’d have been buzzing to be leading.
“In the end, they’re probably gutted, but so are we a little bit because it would have been nice for a result to go our way to make it more comfortable.
“That’s how the Premier League goes and it’s going to be a tight finish.”
When asked if Hull’s win meant more than Swansea’s, Clucas said: “I think so yeah, just because of the situation.
“But we’ve just got to concentrate on ourselves. It’s nice to have it in our hands.”
Hull have taken 19 points from 21 available at home since boss Marco Silva arrived in January.
But Silva’s unbeaten record at the KCOM looked in serious doubt when Oumar Niasse was sent off in the 25th minute.
Harsh
The on-loan Everton striker was dismissed by referee Bobby Madley for a foul on M’Baye Niang. The Hull striker’s boot was high but it looked a harsh decision.
Clucas said: “It was definitely a free-kick, maybe a yellow at the most. But the player’s reaction overdid it.
“I saw him pull his sock down and there was no mark on his leg, so it can’t have been that bad. Maybe the ref took his scream into consideration a little bit.”
Hull were grateful to keeper Eldin Jakupovic for keeping them level with two big saves from Sebastian Prodl and Etienne Capoue.
But Silva’s side kept their shape and got their noses in front with a rapid counter-attack.
Kamil Grosicki crossed for Lazar Markovic, who finished at the second attempt after his header came back off the underside of the bar.
The Tigers’ nerves were settled nine minutes later to thanks to Clucas.
Jose Holebas half-cleared Grosicki’s corner and Clucas was on the edge of the box to control and volley home for 2-0.
Clucas said: “I used to play up front when I was younger and scored a few decent goals but that’s certainly my best as a professional – to do it in the Premier League at such an important time.
“It was a great feeling. As soon as I hit it, I knew it was going in.”
Watford hit 40 points last week but Capoue said the Hornets cannot afford to switch off. The French midfielder said: “The league is not finished for us. We need to improve and prepare for next season as well. If you play well, you have the chance to play next season as well and everyone wants the chance to play in the Premier League.
“We are not happy to get 40 points because we know we can get more. We want to finish as high as possible and we will try.” SAM CLUCAS Superb display and a cracking goal M’BAYE NIANG Made a meal of Niasse foul HULL (4-2-3-1): Jakupovic 7; Elmohamady 7, Maguire 7, Ranocchia 8, Robertson N’Diaye 7; 7, CLUCAS 8; Grosicki 7 (Dawson, Evandro 6 90), (Hernandez 46, 7), Markovic 7 (Huddlestone 82); Niasse 5. Subs: Marshall, Maloney, Mbokani, Henriksen. UP NEXT: Southampton (a), Premier League, Saturday. WATFORD (4-3-3): Gomes 6; Janmaat 6, PRODL 7, Britos 6, Holebas 5 (Zuniga Cleverley 87); 5, Doucoure 5 (Okaka 73), Capoue Amrabat 5 5; (Success 67, 6), Deeney 6, Niang Subs: Pantilimon, 5. Mariappa, Behrami, Kabasele. UP NEXT: Liverpool (h), Premier League, Monday. Referee: Bobby Madley 4. YOUR TURN: Who scored Hull’s last-minute winner the last time they beat Watford at home, 3-2 in the Championship in October 2011?