Hull City progress to first ever FA Cup final
Sheffield United led twice but four second-half goals win it for City
6.04pm BST
That will be Hull's first ever FA Cup final. Really they deserved it today; although Sheffield United came alive in the second half of the first 45 minutes and took a deserved half-time lead, Steve Bruce recognised that he'd cocked things up a bit with his tactics and changed things around. From then on in they looked like a classy side that were two divisions above their opponents. Aluko made a great difference as did a repositioned Huddlestone.
As for Sheffield United, I guess that must be heartbreaking. I won't patronise them now, but they played very well for a lower-league team. I'll leave you with this photo from Jacob. Night!
Sheffield United players applauded off by their fans pic.twitter.com/zYpqm4baDT
5.59pm BST
What did I tell you? That was great!
5.58pm BST
There will be three minutes of injury time and Hull are under pressure here! Sheffield United are knocking it around and see a series of shots from the edge of the area blocked. Oh but here come Hull on the break and Elmohamady rolls it into the inside-right channel for Meyler to run on to it in the area. He finishes coolly and caps what has been a wonderful semi-final.
5.56pm BST
Cross comes in from the left and after a diving header is blocked, Murphy is on hand to acrobatically volley in from ten yards. John Ashdown is presumably having kittens.
5.54pm BST
88 min Ben Davies crosses from the left for United but his namesake Curtis heads it out and Hull break. It's spread from right to left for Quinn but the flag goes up for offside.
Right, can I clarify for those emailing in: Hull didn't really bring Walter White on. I can't believe I'm having to explain this.
5.52pm BST
86 min I realise that Hull City aren't exactly a team brimming with big names, but in case anyone reading is that unfamiliar with Steve Bruce's squad, Walter White, Tywin Lannister and the concept of ennui aren't registered for this competition.
5.50pm BST
84 min "Boring you say," writes Eric Hyland. "But you are a journalist, make something up. Your account doesnt have to be accurate just a bit accurate." I feel like that Bond villain played by Jonathan Pryce.
Hull take off Meyler, Huddlestone and Livermore and replace them with Walter White, Tywin Lannister and the concept of ennui.
5.48pm BST
83 min Scougall and Baxter, the Sheffield United goal-scorers are off. Chris Porter and Ben Davies replace them.
5.47pm BST
82 min United are still probing, but doing so in that area between halfway and 25 yards from the Hull City goal. No one seems able to spot anything "on", but then again neither can I.
5.44pm BST
79 min Aluko goes on a mazy, quick run through the middle then veering left. He sticks his left-footed shot from 20 yards comfortably wide of the near post.
5.44pm BST
78 min Just be thankful though, Sheffield United fans. How many patronising "plucky Blades" newspaper articles do you think you could stomach before vomiting up all your internal organs?
5.42pm BST
77 min One-day cricket has the boring middle overs, football has the last 10/15/20 minutes where the game is over and nothing worth commenting on happens. We have reached that point, ladies and gentlemen.
5.40pm BST
75 min If you thought the standard of punditry here on the MBM was bad, our very own Daniel Harris isn't impressed with BT Sport.
Danny Mills reckons Nigel Clough's team talk consisted of "get into these prima donnas". Verily he could not be thicker.
5.37pm BST
72 min A slick, direct passing move from United sees the ball reach Flynn on the right-hand corner of the box. He shoots but Davies blocks it solidly.
5.36pm BST
70 min Here comes Murphy down the left and he gets to the byline. Brayford is up in support on the right but the cross is blocked for a corner. From that, the ball pings around off several heads, [UNIDENTIFIED SHEFFIELD UNITED PLAYER] puts a decent overhead kick over the bar.
5.33pm BST
69 min I'd wager that Quinn has just ended the hopes of his former club there. At least he had the good grace to celebrate wildly, which is nice to see.
5.32pm BST
This is done. Meyler slips a neat ball inside the defender for Livermore to run on to on the right of the area. He dribbles up to the six yard box and clips a cross on to the head of the substitute Quinn, who nods in.
5.31pm BST
66 min It's a corner on the left to Hull. It's whipped in to the back post, where Meyler beats Harris to the ball and heads it downwards, but it bounces up and over the bar.
5.30pm BST
64 min Hull make their final change as Sagbo looks to have got a knock. Stephen Quinn on.
5.29pm BST
63 min Elmohamady diddles down the right with plenty of time and space. Rather than cross he pulls it back to Livermore in a good position see, David Moyes? who has options to his left but instead decides to knock it back to Huddlestone, whose rasping shot from 25 yards is at a decent height for Howard and held at the second attempt.
5.26pm BST
61 min Brayford crosses from the right for Baxter, but it's high and looping and fairly comfortable for Steve Harper, born 1955, to come and get.
5.25pm BST
59 min Chance for United! A lovely little slide-rule diagonal pass from goal-scorer Scougall finds Ryan Flynn just onside in the inside right channel. You'd put money on him to score from 18 yards, but an excellent challenge by Rosenior, I think, squeezes him out.
5.23pm BST
58 min It also looks like Shane Long is enjoying the match. Thanks to Ian McCourt for pointing me in the direction of this.
What a game this is! Love it lads pic.twitter.com/HqcdMhSq7u
5.22pm BST
57 min Fancy some controversy? Kiran Kulkarni is just asking for debate: "Perhaps time has come we bring new rules. Every sportsman has a right to play unless injured or suspended. Unfair Jelavic & Long not playing. Not their fault being cup tied. They can't be deprived of glory."
Playing Devil's advocate for a moment, they didn't have to sign for Hull?
5.20pm BST
Huddlestone played a 1-2 in midfield and carried on his run, Yaya Toure-esque, into the box down the right. He kept his cool, stepped back inside on to his left foot and clipped it past Howard.
5.19pm BST
This is a really nice goal.
5.16pm BST
51 min Aluko spots a gap behind the defence and plays in Fryatt through the middle, who rounds the keeper to score! The flag was up straight away though for off-side, although the replay shows he wasn't.
5.15pm BST
50 min Hull have held out longer than they did last time, anyway. Steve Bruce will be feeling very pleased with himself there as both Aluko and Fryatt were involved.
5.14pm BST
Brayford, under pressure from Sagbo puts it out for a corner. No one can get it clear, the ball pings around and it's turned in from six yards by the substitute Fryatt!
5.13pm BST
48 min Collins gives it away to Huddlestone, a poor pass out of defence, but Huddlestone sends a worse one in the direction of the pacey Finn. It's cleared and Aluko goes through the middle, but Bob Harris (the defender, rather than Bill Murray's Lost in Translation character) covers.
5.10pm BST
46 min Here we go. Boyd and Figueroa are off for Hull, Aluko and Fryatt on. Hull literally get the ball rolling. Meyler has a shot on his left foot from 25 yards after Aluko dribbled down the inside right, but it's high and wide. Not even good for three rugby points.
5.05pm BST
Fancy some Premier League action? Nick Miller is bravely enduring a shocker of a match between Swansea and Chelsea. I won't lie, that one's been awful, but then Nick's funnier than me, so take your pick.
5.04pm BST
Hull City are in dire need of inspiration it seems.
Eye of the Tiger blasting our of the speakers at @wembleystadium #inspirational #COYH #UTT
4.56pm BST
Steve Bruce's high full backs tactics have been absolutely torn up today. That's half time and, while it's not been a complete thriller, Sheffield United's performance has given their fans something to, well, go utterly mad
fer
for, and it's kinda infectious. Back in a few.
4.54pm BST
45 min + 2 There will be two minutes of injury time. Actually we've nearly had two minutes of injury time.
4.53pm BST
94 seconds is how long Hull were level. This game has suddenly kicked into life as Murphy scampered down the left, got to the byline and pulled it back for the midfielder to arrive and apply the cool finish from 12 yards.
4.51pm BST
Wow!
4.50pm BST
That was a nicely timed run from Sagbo, running on to Livermore's neat diagonal pass and, on the slide, sticking it into the roof of the net from 15 yards.
4.49pm BST
Ah.
4.49pm BST
41 min Hull are enjoying the lion's tiger's? share of possession, but United are composed and competent in defence...
4.47pm BST
40 min It's been an outstanding effort from the fans at Wembley to keep making noise through this. Boyd offers a rare glimmer of quality as he puts a dangerous cross in from the right. It bounces in front of Howard and he gathers it coolly.
4.44pm BST
36 min Huddlestone has a little kick at the United captain Doyle and is lucky not to be booked. The free kick is wide on the left, 35-odd yards from goal, but it's lumped too deep and cleared for a throw.
4.43pm BST
35 min Boyd looks to flick it on to Sagbo, not realising Sagbo was behind him. I imagine that if you're a Sheffield United fan, this is sickeningly tense. I'm a Man City fan, so right now I'm just angry.
4.40pm BST
33 min Tactics watch here, courtesy of Jacob. Sagbo has barely been in the game, try as he might to get involved.
Hull have switched Livermore and Huddlestone now. Huddlestone deeper - idea to start him behind striker didn't work.
4.39pm BST
31 min Hull have a corner on the right, which is played towards Sagbo running in at the far post. The striker realises it's been massively overhit and runs away from goal to chase it; he gets a head to the ball but can only direct it towards the opposite corner flag.
4.37pm BST
29 min Hull concede another free kick in that 45-yards-out-on-the-right region with another clumsy tackle. Again it's curled in, but Davies heads clear. The Hull penalty area really is absurdly brightly lit.
4.35pm BST
28 min A word puzzle for you:
T H E C O S H
__________________
4.33pm BST
26 min Huddleston with a speculative 25 yard volley from a header clear. He's fortunate as it takes a deflection and goes behind from a corner. From it, Davies fouls the goalkeeper Howard.
4.32pm BST
25 min Good build-up play as United knock it across from the right and pass it around on the edge of the D. Stefan Scougall spies a gap between the defenders and launches a 20-yard effort first time with his left foot, but he bloots it well over.
4.31pm BST
23 min Either way, Hull's defence was poor there. Brayford wasn't closed down at all when he got it on the right and, while it was a good cross, Chester was a little flat-footed.
4.29pm BST
21 min Well well well. Hull look to come back immediately as Sagbo charges forwards, but he's held up. Looking at the replays, I'm wondering if that may be a James Chester own goal.
4.27pm BST
That came from nowhere. Brayford picks it up from a throw-in on the right and whips a low cross in. Baxter gets in front of Chester and bundles it in!
4.25pm BST
18 min That might have been a chance of a chance for United as Coady skated down the left, but he cut back inside and was tackled by Chester.
4.22pm BST
14 min First yellow card of the match goes to David Meyler for a trip on Coady. Free kick is 45 yards out just to the right and pumped into the box, but Hull head clear. The long ball into the box might not be bad tactic for United in this half as Steve Harper is clearly being hampered by the sun.
4.20pm BST
12 min A Hull player I didn't see which spots Howard off his line and looks to lob him from the right-hand touchline 40 yards out. It sails well wide though.
4.19pm BST
11 min Ten minutes gone and there doesn't look to be a huge gulf in quality in the teams. United get a free kick near halfway on the right and every Hull player drops back into the box preparing for the long ball, so United knock it short and look to amble forward. Nothing on for Flynn on the right though.
4.17pm BST
10 min Pass. Pass. Give it away. Repeat.
4.16pm BST
8 min Nothing has happened yet. Elmohamady almost gets a soupcon of a chance to create something, but overruns it down the right of the box and it's a goal kick.
4.13pm BST
5 min Hull knock it around near halfway then pass up to Sagbo on the right. He plays it inside but Brayford brings it away. Hull win it back and get it wide to Figueroa on the byline, but his cross is easily caught by Mark Howard.
4.11pm BST
4 min There's been a bit of knocking the ball around in the Hull right back area by both sides. This is slightly problematic, as it's very bright there and I'm struggling to see a whole lot.
4.10pm BST
2 min The whispers are that United are planning to play a more expansive game, at least early on, here than they have hitherto on their cup run. The amount of time the ball has spent on the floor so far though suggests the whispers may be nonsense.
4.08pm BST
1 min Sheffield United kick-off playing left-to-right. Both sides are wearing the "right" kits. United win a throw in on the right.
4.06pm BST
Success. Both games on and have direct sightlines to both TVs. pic.twitter.com/bduevnmkKf
4.05pm BST
Tactics: It's 4-2-3-1 for Hull, with Sagbo up front in the absence of cup-tied Long and Jelavic. For Sheffield United, it's 4-4-1-1.
4.01pm BST
Wembley is, as Jacob says, absolutely rocking by the looks of things. It's also bathed in sunshine and conditions look good for a nice, free-flowing game of football. I genuinely think this could be a cracking game. Come on guys, it's a Cup semi-final for crying out loud!
3.57pm BST
The Guardian's very own Jacob Steinberg is at Wembley. I would guess John Ashdown, Blades fan that he is, is there too, but only one of them appears to be tweeting at the moment.
The sound system at Wembley is ridiculously loud. But who needs ear drums anyway?
3.53pm BST
Here is Sheffield United's most badass fan. NSFW, for those working on a Sunday.
3.45pm BST
The following email genuinely came through to me yesterday from James A. Ngeno and unfortunately I haven't been able to get in touch with Samuel for him. Anyone out there able to help?
Dear Mr. Dan Lucas.I have been unable to get the correct email address for Mr. Samuel Etoo. Kindly forward this email to him; or alternatively in case you have someone who is in a position to respond to my humble request i will appreciate.Thanking you in advance for your assistance and may God bless you.
Dear Mr. Samuel Etoo.
First of all let me wish you all the best and God's Blessings in your career as a professional footballer. I am also encourage by flowing in your proceeds in assisting the less fortunate in our society in this way God will bless you abundantly.
3.31pm BST
Hull City's coolest fans:
3.24pm BST
The teams have been announced for @hullcityteam v @SUFC_tweets at #Wembley pic.twitter.com/m23bxKtFig
3.21pm BST
Hull: Harper, Rosenior, Figueroa, Davies, Chester, Huddlestone, Meyler, Livermore, Boyd, Elmohamady, Sagbo
Subs: Jakupovic, Faye, Bruce, Koren, Quinn, Aluko, Fryatt
Sheffield Utd: Howard, Harris, Brayford, Maguire, Flynn, Doyle, Baxter, Collins, Coady, Scougall, Murphy
Subs: TBC
3.14pm BST
Oh eff off, football.
3.05pm BST
If you are into Liverpool v City and all that, I'll admit it's quite the thriller. Ian McCourt is on that one.
3.00pm BST
Afternoon folks. T'other day (to get into the Yorkshire parlance) I read a piece on this very website by Barney Ronay about the increasingly soulless globalisation of the Premier League. A couple of passages in particular caught my eye:
This is a league that basically means nothing, producing the bare minimum of players, managers and hand-reared teams. Instead it can look sometimes like an elaborate piece of staging. We provide the fans, the heritage branding, the noise, the smell of mud. The rest of the world brings the ball ... I can see no real reason why the whole thing couldn't in time be moved to China, where new stadiums could be built, huge crowds drawn, the branding retained, massive sponsorship attracted and no significant revenue or personnel supply lines interrupted.
Continue reading...