British Broadcasting Corporation

BBC Sport football

Watch Sport news bulletin

Related BBC sites

Page last updated at 21:40 GMT, Thursday, 26 February 2009

Hull City 2-1 Sheff Utd

By Mandeep Sanghera

Peter Halmosi turns in a Nick Barmby cross to give Hull a 2-1 win over Sheffield United
Halmosi steers in the winner for Hull against Sheff Utd

Hull booked their FA Cup quarter-final spot with a win over Sheffield United in a fifth-round replay.

The home side went ahead after Blades defender Kyle Naughton's header was adjudged to have crossed his own goal-line after bouncing off the crossbar.

It was a controversial decision but Billy Sharp poked in a shot to level.

Sharp had a strong penalty shout turned down after a Kamil Zayatte foul before Peter Halmosi guided in a Nick Barmby cross for Hull's winner.

Hull have reached the last eight for the first time in 38 years and will now play either Arsenal or Burnley, while Sheffield United will feel aggrieved at the decisions which went against them in the tie.

However, Hull's appetite to progress in the competition may have been questioned looking at their starting line-up for the game.

606: DEBATE

Manager Phil Brown rested Ian Ashbee and made seven changes from the side which lost to Tottenham on Monday, with his priority Premier League survival.

But the home side quickly grabbed a stranglehold on the game and imposed themselves on a depleted Blades side, who could not name a full complement of seven substitutes.

Halmosi outmuscled and outpaced Naughton to get a low cross in for Barmby but he could only sidefoot horribly over.

Zayatte headed wide at the near post as Hull piled on the pressure before they contentiously took the lead.

Naughton inadvertently powered a header at his own goal and, after the ball bounced off the own crossbar, a goal was given, with the officials deeming that the ball had crossed the line.

It was a close call and did not go down well with the Sheffield United camp after replays on the big screens at the KC Stadium.

A sense of injustice drove the visitors forward and they were rewarded with an equaliser.

Greg Halford crossed to the far post where Lee Hendrie guided a header across goal for Sharp to turn in from close range.

Hull were rattled and Sharp should have had the chance to add a second but the Blades striker was booked for diving instead of getting a penalty after Zayatte clipped his ankle.

Halmosi compounded Sheffield United's misery when he stole in at the near post to steer in Barmby's cross.

It looked as though Hull had eventually done enough to shrug off their determined opponents and so it proved as the Blades failed to muster a second wind.


Hull City boss Phil Brown:
"I'm happy with the commitment and the way the players are performing.

"But, when the pressure situation comes along everyone tightens up a bit.

"You saw a bit of that towards the end of the game. But if a side has two shots in the second half and don't hit the target, then we're worthy winners."

Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell:
"Their first wasn't a goal. It hasn't crossed the line.

"I've seen a replay (of the Billy Sharp foul). It is a penalty. The officials have been poor and need to look at themselves.

"To be knocked out is disappointing. We feel we have been robbed."


Hull: Myhill, Doyle, Turner, Zayatte, Ricketts, Mendy, France, Marney, Halmosi, Barmby (Garcia 73), Folan (Manucho 65).
Subs Not Used: Warner, Geovanni, Cousin, Featherstone, Gardner.

Booked: Marney.

Goals: Naughton 24 og, Halmosi 56.

Sheff Utd: Kenny, Naughton, Morgan, Walker, Naysmith (Jihai 88), Cotterill, Howard, Stephen Quinn, Hendrie (Tahar 90), Halford, Sharp.
Subs Not Used: Bennett, Keith Quinn, Starosta.

Booked: Naughton, Sharp.

Goals: Sharp 32.

Att: 17,239

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).


BBC Sport Player Rater men of the match: Peter Halmosi on 7.25 (on 90 minutes).

Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.




see also
Thursday's football as it happened
26 Feb 09 |  Football
Sheff Utd 1-1 Hull
14 Feb 09 |  FA Cup


related bbc links:

related internet links:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

FROM OTHER SPORT SITES
Yorkshire Post Naughton: We'll bounce back - 2 hrs ago
Sky Sports Blades boss calls for technology - 17 hrs ago
Sporting Life BROWN PUTS FRIENDSHIP ASIDE - 17 hrs ago
Football365.com Tigers To Avoid Screen Rap - 18 hrs ago
Daily Express FA could act on Blackwell comments - 24 hrs ago


Explore the BBC

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.