Previously v Hull City
Relive – Hornets beaten by 10-man Tigers
Ten-man Hull boost survival hopes as Hornets crash to defeat
Mazzarri angered by missed chances in Hull defeat
RATINGS: Deeney and co struggle in Hull defeat
Ten-man Hull City claimed a gutsy victory against Watford to ensure they remain outside the relegation zone and in control of their Premier League destiny.
Goals from Lazar Markovic and Sam Clucas further boosted Hull’s Premier League survival hopes in a superb 2-0 win over a flat Watford side at the KCOM on Saturday.
When Oumar Niasse was controversially sent off with well over an hour remaining, Marco Silva’s impeccable home record seemed in severe jeopardy. By way of exacerbating the woes of the Hull manager Robert Madley’s debatable interpretation of Niasse’s challenge on M’Baye Niang looked the sort of decision on which relegations can hinge and tens of millions of pounds be forfeited.
Lazar Markovic and Sam Clucas struck second-half goals as 10-man Hull kept their Premier League survival hopes alive with a gutsy 2-0 home win against Watford.
Ten days ago we went on a road trip. Only 100 miles or so, so not a vast distance, but the drive from Addis Ababa to Ziway is not to be undertaken lightly.
I had a very cultural week all in all, with plays by Tom Stoppard, Tennessee Williams and Shakespeare followed by a cracking evening spent with the Saw Doctors. I just had to hope that my visit to the city of culture finished the week in style.
I’ve only been to Hull once in my life, back in October 2011. I was in my first year of university, and decided to waste my student loan on the trip up North, to watch a struggling Watford take on a promotion-chasing Hull in the early days of Dyche’s reign.
| English Premier League | Table » | ||
| Bournemouth | 4-0 | Middlesbrough | |
| Hull City | 2-0 | Watford | |
| Swansea City | 2-0 | Stoke City | |
| West Ham United | 0-0 | Everton | |
Clips of Jon Marks’ commentary
There is no apostrophe after the final ‘S’ in ‘Visitors’.
Clips of Jon Marks’ Commentary
A month into a new job, I don’t have many regular meetings but one that I do have is on Tuesday from 5 to 6pm. As the meeting came to a close, I was itching to get away. When the request was made for any questions, the response of one of my colleagues that she had one immediately took her off my Christmas card list. As soon as I was able, I made a rapid exit and was at Euston in time for the 18:30. With a brief stop to check in to my hotel, I made a beeline for the ground. As I reached the Rookery, it was lovely to see Gifton Noel-Williams outside chatting to someone. After entering through the turnstiles, I found that the concourse was deserted. In the stand, my family were in their seats but there were not many others there. Then I heard Tim on the tannoy announce that it was 25 minutes to kick-off. No wonder the place was so empty, I was ridiculously early … and I was going to have to watch this game sober, not a prospect I was relishing. My early arrival did mean that I got to see the warm-up. The notice on the big screen warning spectators to look out for balls flying into the crowd didn’t prevent a guy in the front of the stand being hit by an errant shot from Capoue. The Frenchman leaped into the stand in order to apologise. This had quite an effect on my niece, who is a big fan and came over all unnecessary, “I wish he’d hit me.” Another off-pitch distraction came by way of my sister’s niece, who is studying for a degree in football broadcasting. She had enquired about opportunities to gain experience at Watford and had been invited to shadow the media team for this game. She was thrilled, but I think her aunt(s) were even more excited than she was.
Well, just how do you sum up the events of last night? Not easily, that’s for sure, but I’ll try my best. My heart rate has finally slowed down after an excruciatingly tense night under the lights of Vicarage Road. We must have all come close to cardiac arrest at some stage during the final 20 minutes, but I’ll get to that later.
Clips of Jon Marks commentary
Just before the half hour, Niang went on a wonderful forward run but, after doing all the hard work his shot was straight at a defender. As the play returned to the other end of the pitch, he just ambled around. I wondered whether he had an injury, but it soon became clear that he just needed a sit down after his exertions.
It was refreshing to see us play some good football and get a deserved win, refreshing to know we can still grind out a victory, refreshing to know that there’s now no international football until June.