BLUE SURGE IS SCARING RIVALS
One Hull of a game as Eaves grabs 95th-minute equaliser
Championship
TOM EAVES grabbed a late point in an incredible game for Hull – who were stood-up by their fed-up fans in an embarrassing Valentine’s Day snub.
Grant McCann’s men took the lead three times, only to be pegged back on each occasion, before substitutes Jordon Garrick and Rhian Brewster looked to have snatched a win for play-offchasing Swansea.
Substitute Eaves had other ideas though as the big forward slid home a closerange leveller in the fifth minute of stoppage time in front of a crowd of 9,757.
That is the lowest turnout for a league game at City’s home for 17 years – as stayaway supporters opted for a romantic night in over a looming relegation scrap.
And it was hard to fall in love with some woeful defending on show from both sides as Hull scored early in each half thanks to first goals for the club from Leo Da Silva Lopes and Marcus Maddison – only to be pegged back almost immediately.
Hull’s quest to end their lengthy winless streak was given the ideal start after just six minutes.
Marc Guehi’s weak clearing header from Callum Elder’s centre fell invitingly for midfielder Lopes, who beat Freddie Woodman with the aid of a deflection off Jake Bidwell (below).
But that lead lasted just seven minutes as Hull were opened up with similar ease for Wayne Routledge to mark his 200th career Championship appearance with a goal.
It came at the culmination of a six-pass move starting with Woodman and owing much to Conor Gallagher.
The on-loan Chelsea youngster helped ferry the ball to Bidwell on the left before taking a pass from the full-back to burst into the area.
He then rolled the ball invitingly across the six-yard box for Routledge to sweep home his third goal of the season.
The hosts regained the lead five minutes into the second half when Maddison followed up to thrash home his first goal since moving from Peterborough last month, Woodman and Ben Wilmot having failed to deal with the forward’s initial shot.
Again the advantage was shortlived as Hull switched off at a Matt Grimes corner, which allowed Kyle Naughton the time and space to fire past Long from 15 yards.
Mallik Wilks put the home side ahead for a third time just after the hour.
The striker followed up to find the bottom corner from a dozen yards after
P W D L F A Pts West Brom 32 17 11 4 57 34 62 Leeds 32 16 8 8 47 30 56 Fulham 32 16 8 8 47 33 56 Brentford 32 16 6 10 53 26 54 Nottm Forest 32 15 9 8 43 31 54 Preston 32 15 8 9 47 36 53 Bristol City 32 15 8 9 48 45 53 Cardiff 32 12 13 7 46 43 49 Swansea 33 12 12 9 41 41 48 Blackburn 32 13 8 11 46 38 47 Millwall 32 11 13 8 39 38 46 Sheff Wed 32 12 8 12 41 35 44 Derby 32 11 10 11 40 44 43 Birmingham 32 12 7 13 41 48 43 Hull 33 11 8 1447 51 41 Reading 32 10 9 13 38 37 39 QPR 32 11 6 15 47 56 39 Middlesbrough 32 8 13 11 34 42 37 Charlton 32 9 9 14 41 45 36 Huddersfield 32 9 8 15 37 51 35 Stoke 32 10 4 18 39 49 34 Wigan 32 7 9 16 31 48 30 Luton 32 8 3 21 38 66 27 Barnsley 32 5 10 17 37 58 25 his initial header from Daniel Batty’s cross had been blocked.
But there was still time for Garrick to provide a closerange leveller after Andre Ayew had beaten Robbie McKenzie to send in a cross.
With six minutes remaining Brewster poked home what looked to be the winner for Swansea, but up popped Eaves to have the final say in time added on.
HULL:
SWANSEA:
REF:
MOTM
ATT:
Championship: 3pm
CARDIFF boss Neil Harris reckons his side’s promotion form is putting the fear factor into their play-off rivals.
The Bluebirds will move closer to the top six if they can make it three wins in a week against struggling Wigan.
And Harris said: “We are in a good position and teams above us will be looking over their shoulder.
“The play-off chances are more realistic than they were seven days ago. I would love to get carried away and get really excited but we have to be sensible.”
Wigan striker Kieffer Moore (above) will return to the Cardiff City Stadium for the first time since his Euro 2020 qualifying heroics for Wales in November.
The Bluebirds had two bids for Moore turned down in January, and Harris says stopping him is the key to clinching another valuable win.
“We are aware of his attributes and talents,” said Harris. “Keeping him quiet is a big part of stopping Wigan.”
MATCH STATS