A spirited Hull City take Manchester United’s unbeaten record but it is the Red Devils who will face Southampton at Wembley after an entertaining EFL Cup semi-final second leg.
Hull City 2 Manchester United 1 (2-3 on aggregate)
Hull City won the battle but lost the war as Manchester United did just enough to book their ticket to the EFL Cup final.
Marco Silva made seven changes from the team beaten at Chelsea and still produced strong evidence of the positive influence he’s brought to the Premier League strugglers since taking the job, overseeing a first defeat for United in 17 matches.
Jose Mourinho also made changes – five – to the team that drew with Stoke, although the side still included regulars Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic , David De Gea and Phil Jones .
Centre-half Eric Bailly, back from the Africa Cup of Nations, was not available but could be in line for a start in Sunday’s FA Cup fourth round tie with Wigan.
A Tom Huddlestone penalty after a foul, of sorts, on Harry Maguire put the Tigers ahead before Pogba’s second half equaliser looked to have put the tie to bed.
Hull refused to accept that fate and Oumar Niasse, given his first start, converted from a David Meyler pass late on to give the home side a deserved victory.
Silva took the opportunity to give second half run-outs to new signings Lazar Markovic and Evandro and also threw on in-form striker Abel Hernandez in a late bid to take the tie to extra-time.
The in-demand Robert Snodgrass (5.8), who has been sidelined with a muscle issue, wasn’t even in the squad, however, as he contemplates a number of offers to take him away from the KCOM Stadium, with West Ham the current favourites to land him following a medical today.
United’s fine unbeaten run might now be over, but it was the overall result that mattered, setting up a February 26 date with Southampton at Wembley.
That means no Gameweek 26 derby at Manchester City, with a double Gameweek 34 or 37 now likely. If it is the former, that would involve another away match, at Burnley. If the latter, then United would have to travel to both City and Spurs in a daunting double-header. Neither scenario is likely to satisfy Mourinho.
Throw in the resumption of Europa League duties just two days before the FA Cup fifth round ties begin on February 18, and even United’s squad will be stretched to the limit.
That could have repercussions for FPL’s current most popular player Ibrahimovic, who is owned by 43.3% of managers.
Mourinho has not been shy in using the Swede in all competitions this season, but such a punishing schedule will likely require rotation of even the biggest names. With United already missing Gameweek 26, FPL managers will have to decide whether to take that hit by sticking with Ibrahimovic and then hope he is saved primarily for league duties through a frantic February and beyond.
As for Hull, confidence is returning and the results are starting to come, as Silva pointed out post-match.
“That is three wins from our last three home games and when I arrived here, the team hadn’t won for two months. We need to continue this home form because it gives confidence to my players.”
Silva’s next foray’s into the transfer market will be crucial to their prospects, along with that home form.
But their next three league fixtures – United (again), Liverpool and Arsenal – suggests the time to look at any of their assets is from Gameweek 26 onwards when their schedule dramatically improves.
Eldin Jakupovic’s absence is somewhat troubling for his 20% ownership, with David Marshall recalled in goal on Thursday evening. Omitted from the matchday squad, it’s presumed that the 3.9 priced keeper was one of those rested with Premier League duties in mind.
Hull City XI: Marshall, Tymon, Maguire, Dawson, Meyler, Huddlestone, Clucas, Maloney (Goebel 64), Niasse, Diomande (Hernández 70), Bowen (Markovic 59).
Subs not used: Kuciak, Robertson, Elabdellaoui, Weir.
Manchester United XI: De Gea, Darmian, Jones, Smalling, Rojo, Carrick, Herrera, Pogba, Lingard (Rooney 79), Rashford (Fellaini 90+1), Ibrahimovic.
Subs not used: Romero, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Shaw, Fosu-Mensah.
