Chuba chops Bury into pieces
BURY boss David Flitcroft blasted two decisions in as many minutes as his side went out of the FA Cup to Chuba Akpom’s hat-trick for Championship leaders Hull.
Arsenal loanee striker Akpom opened the scoring in the first half, before adding his second from the spot and a sublime third to complete his hat-trick, while Craig Jones scored a consolation for the Shakers just before full-time.
But Flitcroft rued Ryan Lowe’s strike being chalked off for offside and accused Tigers midfielder Sone Aluko of diving to win his side a penalty just moments later.
Flitcroft said: “Lowey’s checked his run and it’s not offside, I’ve seen it now so it’s not offside.
“And then they go up the pitch and Aluko dives, a million percent dives over Reece Brown’s leg. The penalty decision’s an absolute joke.
“We had a rally at stages of the game but you want your officials to come and do their job and do their work. I really had an instinct about the two decisions but now I’ve seen them it’s absolutely cast iron.
“But taking nothing away from Steve Bruce and the work he’s done and the professionalism of people like Michael Dawson and Tom Huddlestone.”
Danny Mayor darted into the heart of the Hull defence and set up Danny Rose whose fifth-minute effort was smartly saved by Eldin Jakupovic.
But David Meyler broke through on goal and though Ian Lawlor made a vital save to deny the midfielder, Akpom smashed home the 14th-minute rebound.
Rose then came to his side’s aid after clearing Meyler’s 21st-minute header from Ryan Taylor’s corner off the line as the Tigers searched for a second.
As Bury failed to clear their lines and the heavens opened, Aluko gathered the ball on the edge of the box and fired a 31st-minute rocket just over the bar.
Tom Pope nearly leveled after rising highest but just failed to connect with Chris Hussey’s stoppage time corner.
The Shakers thought they had equalised when Mayor’s low 55thminute cross was flicked home by veteran striker Lowe only for it to be disallowed for offside.
And Bury rued the decision when moments later a jinking Aluko went down under Brown’s challenge and Akpom neatly tucked away his second of the game from the penalty spot.
Arsenal loanee Akpom sealed his hat-trick in style after driving at the Bury rearguard and dropping a shoulder to place a 69th-minute curling effort past a diving Lawlor.
Lowe headed a 79th-minute effort into the stand from close range but the Shakers grabbed a consolation when Mayor fired across goal and Jones lashed home in the 87th minute.
But despite the late consolation, Flitcroft’s opposite number Bruce was simply happy to have navigated a tricky tie.
Speaking about Aluko, Tigers boss Bruce said: “I’m delighted for him.
“He spat his dummy out and took his toys out of the pram last week, but he’s a young player with lots of ability and that’ll do him the world of good.
“It was good to see that he got a hat-trick and I’m sure he’ll remember that one.
“It was never going to be easy.To be fair to Bury they were spirited and big and aggressive, and it made it a proper cup tie.
“In the end we got the breaks and that little bit of quality you could see in the end just brought us through.”