FA Cup Third Round 4 January 2014

MIDDLESBROUGH v HULL CITY

Third round day is mild for January, grey but still for the start of the FA Cup run for the Premiership and Championship clubs. How seriously will they compete? Steve Bruce makes nine changes to the Hull side claiming a virus – “a real one not a FA Cup one” – methinks he doth protest too much. It’s Karanka’s first shot at the competition and he claims to be fielding his best side, but is without his loan players.

Boro are in their traditional red and white but Hull have decided against their amber and black stripes and turn out in all blue. There is a good solid wedge of visiting fans but the home supporters are spread out round most of the ground with only those in the “main” stand are packed cheek by jowl.

The first ten minutes are fairly open, but then Boro are pressed back and miss a few chances to clear their lines. When the ball breaks to Meyler he takes the chance to shoot from range. The shot is blocked at source but the deflected ball breaks midway between debut keeper Konstantopoulous and McLean; the latter is quickest to the ball and toe pokes it into the net.

With the lead, Hull comfortably settle into a possession game with Quinn in particular catching the eye. Boro players try to respond with the same passing game but worryingly they can’t find the same space nor can they match the accuracy or control of the Premiership squad players. Too often the only option is a pass backward (credit to a hard-working Hull for that) until even that is not an option and a high ball forward to diminutive strikers follows to give Hull the ball back. The last ten minutes of the half are Boro’s best with a shot on target finally finding its way into Harper’s gloves.

Boro start the second half with a beefed up attack with Jutkiewicz and Adomah on for the youthful Williams (Luke not Rhys) and Ledesma, and immediately some of the balls forward start to stick and enable the midfielders to support. Emnes for once gets free down the left and although his cross is cleared it falls invitingly to Whitehead who from outside the box disappointingly fires wide of the goal.

A few minutes later it is Hull who have an advanced position on their right. McShane jinks between two defenders and cuts a pass back to Boyd; as Boro are drawn to him he too cuts it back, this time to Proschwitz who hits the ball sweetly, first time into the roof of the net. It is a quality goal that effectively settles the game at 2-0.

Boro continue to huff and puff but threaten only from corners; Hull continue to pass the ball around as if in a training session, only discomforted for the final five minutes when Boro centre back Gibson adds his considerable bulk and, more importantly, effort to the attack. Harper proves equal to a couple of late strikes from Main.

It’s all to no avail and Steve Bruce’s squad players have proved good enough on the day for them to take the club through to the next round. Middlesbrough’s cup run has ended on day one and Karanka will have to wait a year to sample again the delights of the FA Cup.