Dominant City keep play-off hopes alive

Pictures courtesy of Hull City

Hull City 3 - 0 QPR

Sky Bet Championship

MKM Stadium

Attendance: 21,225

By Sam Hawcroft, Hull City Correspondent

City put three past QPR in a commanding display that included a goal-of-the-season contender and the long-awaited return of Liam Delap.

If anything could take the shine off this impressive victory, which put the Tigers back in seventh, it was a late goal for Norwich that restored the six-point gap between the two. But as we know, the momentum was lost well before this match – which was City’s first home victory since Millwall at the beginning of February.

The Tigers took about five minutes to get into the game, but from then on it was one-way traffic (something Fabio Carvalho will know all about, if his amusing vox-pop cameo on Look North the other night is anything to go by).

QPR had the first shot on target inside the first minute, Morgan Fox testing Ryan Allsop with a long-range shot that the City keeper was forced to turn around for a corner.

Then a mix-up by Jean Michael Seri and Tyler Morton gifted QPR possession about 25 yards out, before Abdüş Ömür fouled Isaac Hayden, setting up a dangerous free kick just outside the area. Lucas Andersen stepped up to take it, but hit it about a yard wide of the left post.

City then took the upper hand, going ahead in just the eighth minute – and in outstanding fashion.

Ozan Tufan picked up the ball near the left-hand corner of the box, took a touch and then unleashed one of the best right-foot screamers you’re likely to see at the MKM Stadium, or indeed anywhere.

Keeper Asmir Begović had no chance as it sailed over him and cannoned off the inside of the crossbar. While there was considerable doubt about Tufan’s goal-scoring touch in the Middlesbrough game (the goal instead being credited to Jaden Philogene) – there was absolutely none at all about this beauty.

A couple of minutes later, Philogene, played in by Seri, advanced into the area on the left and put in a dangerous pass across goal in the direction of Carvalho – but it was just a bit too far ahead of him.

A nice passage of play in the 18th minute culminated in a corner to City after Tufan’s clever flick to Matty Jacob. It didn’t produce any clear-cut chances, but the Tigers continued to press and there followed another couple of corners in quick succession.

They were looking very good for that 2-0 scoreline which had thus far eluded them so many times at home this season – and weren’t far off when Tyler Morton headed over from 15 yards after being played in by Philogene.

A few minutes later, yet another dangerous Philogene cross fizzed across the face of goal but none of his teammates were lurking to meet it.

Then, in the 26th minute, City did go 2-0 up. So many times at the MKM Stadium they’ve had the bulk of the possession and pressure but seen nothing for it – now, at last, their domination and passing flair paid off.

Ömür did well to win the ball near the halfway line and play in Tufan, who looked up and put in an inch-perfect pass to Carvalho surging down the middle. He outran his marker and pulled the trigger to slot past the advancing Begović from just outside the 18-yard line. Pass, pass – boom! It was as clinical a movement as Boro’s equaliser the other night.

QPR looked pretty shell-shocked as the Tigers continued to dominate – the visitors were lucky not to go in at half time 3-0 or 4-0 down. In the 40th minute, Philogene attempted another bicycle kick that was arguably less threatening than the one at the South Stand end against Boro. One day, he’ll pull it off and the home fans will go nuts.

Seconds after the restart, QPR passed up a good opportunity to get back into it as Paul Smyth – brought on at half-time for Andersen – shot just wide.

Shortly after, there was a bit of a delay in play as Tufan went down injured – and then the North Stand began chanting, “Liam Delap, we want you to stay” and “Acun, sign him up…” Let’s hope he was listening.

It wasn’t long before City made it three.

In the 52nd minute, City were awarded a free kick on the right about 25 yards out. Ömür rolled it to Morton, who lofted it into the area. It was cleared by QPR but only into the path of Philogene about 15 yards out. There was no fancy stuff this time – he put his foot through it and blasted it into the back of the net.

Close to the hour, there were big chances at either end within seconds of each other, as firstly the Tigers were opened up by a through ball and Smyth rounded the advancing Allsop – but Matty Jacob cleared his effort off the line. Then Philogene broke free down the left, but the offside flag was raised.

The offside flag went up again moments later – a far closer call – just after Regan Slater had thumped a shot against the left post.

In the 67th minute, the home fans were on their feet for the reintroduction of Delap, who came on for Tufan – who would surely have been given a standing ovation anyway. Ryan Giles was also brought on for Ömür.

QPR had their moments, it must be said – since the introduction of Smyth they had looked more threatening – and in the 73rd minute Chris Willock shot just wide from outside the box.

In the 77th minute, Delap came so close to making it 4-0 and the perfect return, attempting to chip Begović from inside the area – but it was headed off the line by substitute Reggie Cannon.

With a few minutes to go, Carvalho was replaced by Adama Traore, and Greg Docherty came on for Seri – changes Liam Rosenior could afford to make with the game long won.

Moments later, a brilliant cross from Delap nearly found Traore in the centre as the Tigers looked intent on bagging a late fourth goal.

Cyrus Christie was the final swap, coming on for Morton as the 90 approached. QPR won a couple of corners after five minutes of added time was announced, and Armstrong hit a shot straight at Allsop, but it had been all over as a contest some time ago.

This commanding victory – which brought a sense of déjà vu as the Tigers had registered the same score against QPR last season – just about keeps City in the hunt for top six, though Norwich’s victory was a bit of a sickener. But if the Tigers can continue playing like they did today, who knows? Let’s keep daring to dream – for now.