Hull City have never made it to a FA Cup Final but having being promoted to the Premier League via a Wembley Play-Off Final in 2009 they are perhaps enduring their best era as a football club. They face League One outfit Sheffield United in what to date is their best opportunity of reaching a major cup final in their 110 year history.
They have only once before this weekend reached a semi-final event, this was in 1930 where the Tigers were a Second Division side and would in fact end the season in relegation, but they had proven themselves to be good cup-fighters that year and after seeing off Plymouth Argyle (4-3) away from home, Blackpool (3-1), Manchester City (2-1) and Newcastle United (1-0) where handed a rare opportunity of reaching a final with only Arsenal and Herbert Chapman standing in their way.
Huddersfield Town had beaten local(ish) rivals Sheffield Wednesday by two goals to one in their semi showdown at Old Trafford, booking their place in the final two - they drew the initial fixture at Elland Road two goals each on 22 March before, four days later the Arsenal won by a very famous score line (1-0) at Villa Park to eliminate Hull. A passage from 'The F.A. Cup - The Complete Story by Guy Lloyd and Nick Holt' read;
'The semi-finals found Hull in exalted company. In terms of league position, Arsenal represented the easiest draw as Huddersfield and champions-in-waiting Sheffield Wednesday completed a formidable line-up. If the Tigers were nervous as they took to the field at Elland Road, it didn't show. They tore into Arsenal with Howieson and Duncan shooting them into a two-goal lead with only half-an-hour played. The Gunners regrouped, but sixty-seven minutes had passed before David Jack began the comeback. With Hull only eight minutes from Wembley, Cliff Bastinbroke Humberside hearts with the equaliser.
Hull's chance had gone. With Alexander crocked for the replay, they went out tamely to Jack's early goal and their season fell apart. In freefall for the rest of the campaign, they became sucked into a relegation battle in which they succumbed on goal difference. It was a cruel end, more so since they never again came as close as this.'
In the Premier League the Tigers moved to twelfth in the league table after securing a respectable 1-0 victory over Swansea City last Saturday when George Boyd's header in the first half was enough to ensure victory and likely to secure a place amongst next season’s top flight. They were, however, made to hang on in a second half when Swansea might have equalised but for a lack of cutting edge as the Tigers appeared guilty of prematurely casting their minds ahead to Wembley. A party mood was apparent inside the KC Stadium well before the opening whistle as the home support, somewhat alarmingly armed with face masks of boss Steve Bruce, settled in for a final farewell before a rare adventure to the national stadium.
The Tigers are odds-on to return again to the capital for the FA Cup final - with League One Sheffield United lying in wait next weekend - and the feel good factor of a memorable first season back in the top flight initially uplifted the home team before their second-half wobble. Nonetheless this was a 10th league win of the season and lifted City to 36 points - more than the total they managed when staying up in their first top-flight campaign in 2008/09. If survival still remains Bruce's primary objective then he will at least head to London safe in the knowledge his side have a gap of nine points over the relegation places. With five league games remaining it therefore appears unlikely Hull will be caught - even if they still do have a tough run-in that includes Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton.
In amongst the home joy Swansea were left still with a fight to maintain their Premier League status as their poor recent record extended to just one win in their past 11 matches in all competitions. Rookie manager Garry Monk will hardly relish the prospect of welcoming title-chasing Chelsea to south Wales next week either. With Wembley in mind Bruce exercised caution in his team selection, resting playmaker Tom Huddlestone due to a slight back strain. Alex Bruce also missed out with Boyd and Maynor Figueroa slotting into a switched 4-4-2 formation. Swansea showed no change from the team that beat Norwich 3-0 last weekend.
Hull's fans were in full voice from the first whistle and would have had an early goal to shout about too, but for Michel Vorm's quick reflexes. Shane Long ran on to Figueroa's perfectly-weighted cross to the back post only for Vorm to turn his side-footed volley wide. Hull had most of the initial possession but Swansea were a threat on the break and Jonathan De Guzman should have at least tested home goalkeeper Steve Harper when released on goal. The midfielder ran 30 yards unchecked into the area before cutting inside his marker, but delayed his shot and allowed Hull's back-tracking defence to block.
Wayne Routledge then failed to get enough elevation on a lobbed shot when he got to a through-ball before Harper. Hull's attacks were more sustained, although they were forced to the flanks to try and break down Swansea's rearguard. Curtis Davies headed an Ahmed Elmohamady cross wide while Long lost a Boyd centre in the sun when in space at the back post. Hull's perseverance paid off after 39 minutes, thanks to a lovely Liam Rosenior cross from the right. His delivery to the back post was set-up for Boyd to jump over a static Angel Rangel and the Hull midfielder did so easily before directing his header back across Vorm.
Swansea were brighter after half-time and Hull needed to be awake to cut out deft passes in behind first from Routledge and then Wilfried Bony. When Swansea turned to the flanks Davies won everything in the air. The away side's increasing grip on the game forced Bruce to reinforce midfield with Sone Aluko dropping deeper after coming on for Long just after the hour. Still Swansea threatened and Jonjo Shelvey shot straight at Harper, who momentarily spilled the low shot with Routledge lurking.
Routledge then outmuscled Figueroa and played a pass across for Nathan Dyer who screwed his shot horribly when he had plenty of time. Hull's attacks were at a premium so when Jelavic blazed a free-kick high over the groans from home support were audible. Bony stabbed over when Shelvey played him behind the defence and then was almost given a tap-in by some hap-hazard home defending only for Harper to recover the loose ball. It was hardly a convincing way to sign off before their FA Cup venture, but the Tigers at least held on to head to London in a winning mood.
The Tigers will be without their strike force of former Glasgow Rangers forward Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long after the pair feature in previous rounds for Everton and West Bromwich Albion respectively and are therefore cup-tied. However with no injury concerns to worry about will decide whether to field Sone Aluko, Matty Fryatt or Yannick Sagbo in attack.
The Road To Wembley...
| 04 Jan 2014 | Middlesbrough vs. Tigers |
W |
2-0 |
Round 3 |
| 25 Jan 2014 | Southend United vs. Tigers | W | 2-0 | Round 4 |
| 17 Feb 2014 | Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Tigers | D | 1-1 | Round 5 |
| 24 Feb 2014 | Tigers vs. Brighton & Hove Albion | W | 2-1 | (Replay) |
| 09 Mar 2014 | Tigers vs. Sunderland | W | 3-0 | Round 6 |
Tigers Possible Line-Up (4-4-2):
Harper
Rosenior - Chester - Davies - Figueroa
Elmohamady - Meyler - Livermore - Boyd
Sagbo - Fryatt
Tigers boss Steve Bruce is likely to list Stephen Quinn amongst his substitutes to face his former club. He came through the youth ranks at Bramall Lane and made his debut in a League Cup game at Shrewsbury Town in September 2005 which United won on penalties following a 0-0 draw.
Following short loan spells at Milton Keynes Dons and Rotherham United he was given a chance in the Premier League and scored his first Blades' goal against Aston Villa (2-2) and remained a United player until August 2012 when he joined Hull City after making 220 (+19) appearances for the S2 club and scored 22 goals. It was during his 7 year spell that the club were promoted to the Premier League and also relegated from the same Division and the Championship as well has being on the end twice of two losing Play-Off Finals; 2009 (v Burnley) and 2012 (v Huddersfield Town).