Hull City 2-1 Sheffield United

February 27, 2009

Hull City progressed to the quarter finals of the FA Cup thanks to Peter Halmosi’s first Hull City goal, in a game that was full of controversy. City had taken the lead thanks to an own goal from Kyle Naughton, but replays cannot certainly clearify that the ball crossed the line. Billy Sharp levelled back up moments later, but Halmosi’s 56th minute goal was enough to secure a win for City, as they will face Arsenal or Burnley away in the quarter finals. Phil Brown brought Boaz Myhill back in goal, whilst Nathan Doyle, Peter Halmosi, Caleb Folan, Nick Barmby and Ryan France all coming into the side, whilst Dean Marney captained the Tigers.

Sheffield United could only place five out of a possible seven substitutes on the bench, three of those being called up from the youth squad, due to players been cup-tied and injuries. Greg Halford, who scored the goal againgst Hull in the first game, has been playing up front instead of his usual position at full-back, and he had the first chance of the game, but his header was just wide of Myhills post. Halmosi beat his man on the near side, before squaring back to Barmby, but the ex England international fired over on the volley from close range. Zayatte and Folan then both headed wide for City from corners, and young full back Naughton was lucky not to be sent after hauling down the onrushing Halmosi just outside the box, he was just shown a yellow, and Marney could only fire the resulting free kick in to the Blades wall. Moments later, Naughtons night got even worse.

Doyles cross from the right was headed back towards Paddy Kenny from the full-back, but his header bulleted towards goal, before bouncing down of the bar, onto the line, and hitting the bar again before being hooked away by the visitors, but not before the linesman had raised his flag for a goal, much to the dismay of Sheffield United. Replays of the incident didn’t prove conclusive. But the visitors hit back eight minutes later thanks to ex Scunthorpe front man Billy Sharp. Greg Halford found himself in plenty of space on the right hand side, and he floated his cross to the back post, where Lee Hendrie lurked, and he headed beautifully to Sharp, who volleyed home from six yards, despite the attempts of Michael Turner to head the ball clear on the line. Sheffield United then had a very good claim for a penalty turned down.

Sharp was played in on goal, and was brought down seven yards from goal by Zayatee. Referee Peter Walton put the whistle to his mouth, with most people expecting him to award the visitors a penalty, but instead booked Sharp for diving. Replays later showed that Zayatte had brought the striker down in the box, and according to Dean Windass and Steve Mcmanaman in the Setanta Sports studio at half time, the incident was a ’stone wall penalty’. The first chance of the second half fell to Nick Barmby following another City corner, but his volley was hooked wide of the post.

Minutes later City did have the lead. Nathan Doyle did excellently well to keep the ball in on the near touchline, and threaded the ball to Barmby, whose cross found Halmosi, and the Hungarian managed to prod the ball beyond Kenny into the corner. City then pressed for a third to seal the cup tie, with Mendy heading just over. Sheffield United pushed hard late on, with Kevin Blackwell throwing some substitutes, but the Tigers backline stayed resolute, and held out the threat of the Blades, to hand City a quarter final tie at either Burnley or Arsenal. But before that they face Blackburn Rovers on Sunday at the KC, in a game that could carry huge significance for the Tigers season.

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