FA Cup: Hull City vs Fulham

Hull City Offical Supporters Club and Beverley FM Sport have a long-standing partnership; this includes match previews which today is provided by Lee Dolman. Lee looks ahead to City’s FA Cup Round 3 match, and it brings back a few memories of the World’s greatest domestic cup competition from years gone by too…

Rest in peace Christopher Needler, former Hull City Chairman who died in Monaco aged 78.

The Road to Wembley
The World’s greatest domestic cup competition gets serious today, as the two top tiers enter the fray. The competition started back in September with Morpeth playing Warrington Town for £2,250 prize money.

This is the round where lower league clubs can earn a big payday by being drawn against a Premier League club or at least a club with huge support such as Sunderland.

Win today and you are only 3 more wins from a trip to Wembley (semi-finals).

Memories
The FA Cup was the highlight of the football season, when I was a boy, culminating with a full day of TV dedicated to the Cup Final. Followed by a re-enactment after with friends and jumpers (or milk crates) for goalposts.

My memories include walking from school (5-mile round trip) in my lunch to buy tickets for Penrith away 1st round. I was, inevitably, late back and had to explain why.

I remember the trilogy of games against the heroic Blyth Spartans, starring Les Mutrie.

Inexplicably losing 3 nil at Springfield Park, Wigan in 1987 Round 5 whilst standing on a mudbank in the pouring rain.

Leading against the all-conquering Liverpool team in 1989 to narrowly lose 2-3.

Runcorn and the wall collapsing, then having to stand in sub-zero temperatures at Witton Albion for the rearranged match. So many more stories which I hope to tell if we progress to the 4th Round.

Fulham “The Cottagers”
Marco Silva, who made such a huge impact in just 22 games (before Watford poached him) returns to Hull. He said that he wants to progress to the next round, whilst keeping an eye on his squad. So we hope that this means the goal machine Mitrovic will be rested.

Past encounters
We have met Fulham four times in the FA Cup with our guests winning 3 times. Fulham won the FA Cup in 1975 but made hard work of it, after two draws against The Tigers and narrowly winning 1 nil in the 2nd replay at Filbert Street, Leicester.

Today’s Match
Liam Rosenior is making his mark and we are unbeaten since the World Cup. We are also hard to beat. Fulham are a very good side though and have won their last 3 Premier League games.

We need to start winning at home to give the home fans something to cheer. Thanks to the clubs owners for the low-cost tickets, which should be rewarded with a big crowd.

Prediction
My prediction is Hull City 3-2 Fulham.

More from the heart than pure logic. I just think the crowd will lift the team and if Mitrovic and others are rested then we have a chance.

Line up
My starting lineup would be: Ingram; Christie, A. Jones, McLoughlin, Greaves (C); Slater, Seri; Longman, Tufan, T. Smith; Oscar.

Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy New Year.