Lamouchi aiming for sweet 16 to help avoid the drop
NEW boss Sabri Lamouchi says that Cardiff have “16 cup finals” after slipping closer to the drop zone at fast-improving Hull.
The Bluebirds, who missed a first-half penalty, have now gone 13 in all competitions since their last win and this was the Frenchman’s second 1-0 reverse since taking over last week.
Lamouchi said: “If we had scored first it probably would have been a different game but we need to be more aggressive in both boxes. We have 16 games left – they’re 16 cup finals.
“We have one goal – to have three teams behind us. But we need to fight and switch on.”
Hull dominated early on with Regan Slater slamming the base of the post and Cyrus Christie forcing a fingertip save from Ryan Allsop.
Callum Robinson should have given the visitors the lead midway through the half but his spot-kick was saved by Matt Ingram.
Hull dominated after the break and moments after Christie curled a shot inches wide of the post, he found the far bottom corner from a similar position to grab the points. The Tigers have taken 20 points from 12 games under boss Liam Rosenior and are four points off the play-offs.
He said: “I want everyone to be excited but we need to keep improving.
“You sometimes have to grind out victories and we had the workrate, energy and fight.”
HULL: Ingram 8; Elder 5, McLoughlin 6, A Jones 6, Christie 8; Seri 7, Docherty 6, Slater 6 (Coyle (90) 5), Tufan 6 (Longman (70) 5); Connolly 7 (Greaves (79) 5), Estupinan 5
CARDIFF: Allsop 7; Ng 6, Kipre 6, McGuinness 6, Simpson 5 (Etete (68) 5); Sawyers 6, O’Dowda 5, Wintle 6; Ojo 7 (Harris (90) 5), Philogene 6, Robinson 5 (Kaba (55) 6)
Cyrus Christie – The rightback was a constant thorn in Cardiff’s side and his quality finish was the difference.
David Webb 7