Both sides returned to Sky Bet Championship action at the MKM Stadium on Friday night. The hosts and visitors picked up the same result in the FA Cup last time out; Hull drew 1-1 with Birmingham City, while Norwich drew by the same scoreline against League One side Bristol Rovers.
HUL: Allsop; Coyle, Jones, Morton, Greaves; Slater, Carvalho; Twine, Tufan, Jacob; Connolly
NOR: Gunn; Stacey, Duffy, McLean, Giannoulis; Nunez, Sara; Sainz, Rowe, Sargent; Barnes
On a chilly night in Yorkshire, the Tigers – and Fabio Carvalho – almost made the perfect start to matters at the MKM Stadium, but the Liverpool loanee’s low effort was blocked and cleared well by Kenny McLean. Scott Twine also saw a long-range effort deflected over a few minutes later.
It was then Aaron Connolly’s turn to try and catch out Canaries goalkeeper Angus Gunn, but the former Brighton frontman’s strike on the turn travelled just wide of the far post.
Borja Sainz was presented with the best chance of the game thus far as some intricate build-up play from the visitors saw the Spanish midfielder through on goal, but he somehow scooped his effort well over Ryan Allsop’s bar.
Up the other end, Scott Twine opened up a good amount of space for himself to get his shot away, but his effort was off target and drifted well wide of the far corner.
With just ten minutes to go until half-time, the visitors took the lead through a dazzling show of skill from a star in the making. Jonathan Rowe latched onto a high ball in the Hull City half and proceeded to weave his way past the Tigers defence. The England U21 international then got his shot away in superb style as he lashed the ball home with the outside of his boot, leaving Ryan Allsop with no chance.
Embed from Getty ImagesLiam Rosenior’s side almost found an immediate response, but Fabio Carvalho’s lob from an acute angle sailed well over the bar.
Hull City thought they had won a penalty five minutes into the second half, but referee Andrew Kitchen instead gave the free kick to Norwich after Ozan Tufan was deemed to have dived in the box, rather than be challenged by Canaries defender Shane Duffy.
There was a chance at both ends for both sides, as Josh Sargent’s long-range strike drew an excellent save out of Ryan Allsop, and Ozan Tufan’s effort from 20 yards flashed just wide of Angus Gunn’s far corner.
Billy Sharp, who replaced an injured Aaron Connolly earlier in the game, latched onto a rebound following a snapshot from Tyler Morton, but the former Sheffield United frontman saw his fierce strike saved brilliantly by Angus Gunn. Sharp was thwarted again by Gunn from a corner minutes later.
Sharp’s Tigers teammate Regan Slater also tested his luck from long-range as well, but his shot forced a brilliant save out of Angus Gunn.
With the game in its dying minutes, David Wagner’s men sealed all three points. Onel Hernandez, who came on for Borja Sainz six minutes from time, made some space for himself down the left hand side and curled the ball in beautifully towards the back post, where fellow substitute Christian Fassnacht was waiting to head home and he did just that to win the day for the Canaries.
Two minutes into stoppage time, Tyler Morton found some space just outside the box and smashed a brilliant strike home into the top corner past Angus Gunn with what proved to be a consolation for Liam Rosenior’s side.
Both sides will meet their FA Cup third round opponents again next time out, as Hull City travel down south to face Birmingham City on Tuesday, while Norwich take the trip west to visit Bristol Rovers the following night – both games kick off at 7:45pm.
