City keep cool to beat Rovers on spot-kicks

TIGERS BOOK PLACE IN FOURTH ROUND OF FA CUP AFTER DISMAL CLASH AT THE MKM STADIUM

- By BARRY COOPER

It had been 2,199 long days since Hull City last tasted victory in the FA Cup, when they were 3-2 winners at Rotherham United in January 2020, but they finally ended that run.

David Akintola’ winning penalty kick after an awful game finished 0-0 against Blackburn Rovers sealed their passage through into round four for the first time in six years.

As first halves of football go, there can’t have been too many worse in recent memory when it came to entertainment and attacking intent.

Few expected this to be a thrilling tie when the draw was made last month, and based on the crowd that turned up, coupled with the display from both sides, it lived up to the billing.

Even being 4-0 down to Boro at the start of December felt, in some perverse kind of way, entertaining. The second half was mildly better before extra-time reached levels of excitement not previously seen with Akintola hitting the crossbar, before spot-kicks proved decisive with Sergej Jakirovic winning his first as boss.

Jakirovic went strong with only three changes from the side he picked to face Watford last Sunday in a game that didn’t go ahead, with Dillon Phillips handed a first start since the League Cup clash at Wrexham in August.

Akin Famewo and Darko Gyabi also started, along with Liam Millar and Oli McBurnie.