Tigers maul Bluebirds to cap 120th anniversary celebrations

Pictures courtesy of Hull City

Hull City 4 - 1 Cardiff City

Sky Bet Championship

MKM Stadium

Attendance: 22,665

By Sam Hawcroft, Hull City Correspondent

For the second match running, Hull City turned a 1-0 reverse into a resounding victory – ensuring the Bluebirds didn’t spoil the party as the Tigers celebrated their 120th birthday.

There had naturally been a fair bit of fanfare ahead of this most special of occasions, including the release of a sleek black-and-gold 120th anniversary kit judged by many to be among the most beautiful of threads ever to adorn City’s players. The limited-edition promotion, ahead of an apology and an extended sale, caused some mutterings among the fanbase on social media – but this was, really, minor stuff in the background of what was an emotional and brilliantly organised occasion.

Just ahead of kick-off, a parade of City legends including Ken Wagstaff, Frank Banks, Brian Horton, Dennis Booth, Peter Taylor, Dean Windass, Justin Whittle, Steve Wilson, Jason Price and David Meyler took to the field to constant and rousing applause. After Waggy, perhaps the biggest cheers were reserved for Deano, Whittle and Taylor, who between them are responsible for some of City’s most memorable achievements in the past two decades. 

It was also a special day for captain Lewie Coyle, making his 150th appearance for the club. He went on to put in a performance fitting the occasion.

The game at last under way, the first few minutes were reasonably quiet with the occasional attacking foray from each side – the Bluebirds had the best of the early half-chances, Callum O’Dowda heading well over at one point.

In the 13th minute, Will Fish was booked for a foul on Marvin Mehlem about 25 yards out. Abdüş Ömür lofted the free kick into the box, but the attack soon fizzled out. A couple of minutes later, though, Chris Bedia did well to hold off his man and win a corner, before a powerful shot from Mehlem went a couple of yards over.

Another good link-up between Mohamed Belloumi and Bedia resulted in another corner as City began to put on the pressure. It was just about starting to look promising, but then… déjà vu struck again, and Cardiff, having not read the memo, punctured the party atmosphere. 

Just as in the previous home match against Sheffield United, the Tigers found themselves behind in the blink of an eye as Cardiff went on the counterattack in the 19th minute. After managing to stay just onside, Callum Robinson held his nerve to run with the ball and then plant it past Pandur from the right-hand corner of the eight-yard box.

However, unlike the last home match – City hit back almost immediately. Played in by Oscar Zambrano in the 22nd minute, Belloumi picked up the ball on the right-hand side, took a few touches and then unleashed a left-foot cross-shot that flew past Jak Alnwick in the Bluebirds’ goal. It initially looked like it had been put in by Mehlem, who was lurking in the centre of the box – but Belloumi was claiming it, his was the name read out on the PA, and indeed the goal was officially credited to him.

Then, in the 36th minute, the Tigers took the lead for the first time. Maybe the party was getting started after all!

It was a good move, started by keeper Ivor Pandur – he played in Slater, who took it down the right and signalled to Belloumi to make the run. Fish initially intercepted it, but a fortuitous rebound saw the ball fall into the path of Mehlem, who played in Belloumi – and, with a delightful chip over the keeper, he bagged his and the Tigers’ second. No doubt about this one!

The Tigers finished the half strongly as a shot from Bedia was well tipped over by Alnwick for a corner – but Cardiff’s Ruben Colwill was looking lively too, as the four minutes of first-half added time were played out. While never being under too much threat, Pandur was called on quite a few times to smother the ball.

Just three minutes into the second half, it was the Tigers who nearly scored on the counterattack as they split open the Cardiff defence, and Belloumi looked on for his hat-trick. However, he selflessly squared it to Bedia at the far post – but he just couldn’t connect with the ball.

Shortly after, Zambrano put a free kick well over, but a huge slice of luck would see him hit the back of the net seconds later.

In the 51st minute, a short corner move saw Ömür play in Mehlem, who in turn laid it on to Zambrano. He shot in the direction of the near post, and it took a hefty deflection off the right leg of Callum Chambers and looped into the back of the net. All Chambers could do was bend over in despair. 

Moments later, Belloumi saw a brilliant effort tipped over by Alnwick as, at last, the Tigers seemed to be firing on all cylinders.

In the 59th minute, Belloumi left the field to a warm ovation, replaced by Liam Millar.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic, though – in the 56th minute, Colwill had a shot well saved by Pandur, and three minutes later the Bluebirds won a corner after a decent effort by Anwar El Ghazi was blocked.

Millar made an instant impact for the Tigers, surging down the right and attempting to play in Bedia in the centre of the box, but saw his cross blocked.

Amid another decent spell of pressure by Cardiff, El Ghazi saw another shot palmed away by Pandur in the 66th minute. Four minutes later, there were more heart-in-mouth moments after a poor pass out from Pandur was intercepted and El Ghazi was nearly in again. Cardiff substitute Wilfried Kanga was very well blocked by Sean McLaughlin in the 76th minute.

A trio of City subs followed – Abu Kamara, Kasey Palmer and Xavier Simons on for Omur Slater and Zambrano respectively.

In the 79th minute, Mehlem shot wide – just before Millar drew a brilliant save from Alnwick, sparking a brief period of mayhem in the Bluebirds’ box.

Andrew Rinomhota, another Bluebirds sub, shot over in the 82nd minute, before Mehlem made way for Steven Alzate – who became the 1,163rd player ever to turn out for the Tigers. (Thanks to the excellent souvenir City programme and the work of Mike Scott – aka On Cloud Seven – for that stat, though the Camden-born Colombian international, having signed on September 9, was not in time to make the final edit.)

Rinomhota then had another go from about 18 yards, but put it well over once more. He really should have done better, having had the time and space to hit the target. Which is why Cardiff find themselves where they are – and why Hull City really need to sharpen up in the face of better opposition.

But this mattered not right now, as the Tigers put even more distance between themselves and Cardiff just as the 90 appeared on the scoreboard. Perry Ng bundled down Kamara in the area – and referee Leigh Doughty pointed to the spot.

Bedia (Tigers player number 1,158, since you ask) stepped up, sent Alwnick the wrong way, and bagged his first goal in black and amber.

As pointed out by the Hull City Southern Supporters on X/Twitter, it was a 4-1 win against Cardiff that kicked Phil Brown’s managerial reign into gear. The Tigers have some serious defensive work still to do, but let’s hope this first home win for Tim Walter will do the same.