Manager Steve Bruce has said his overriding emotion at full time in the first round game against Accrington Stanley last night was simply of relief.
Vital Report – Accrington 2-2 Hull (3-4 on pens)
Stats: Accrington Stanley v Hull
Speaking to the Official Site following our penalty shoot out victory at the Wham Stadium, Bruce explained that it had been a long and testing night for the side and he just had to be relieved we were in the hat for the second round.
‘It was certainly hard work and if you don`t approach it right, how many times have we seen it (a shock)? We were a little bit lackadaisical and didn`t play the game at the pace we should have. We played it a bit like a pre-season friendly and sometimes that happens when you go to places like Accrington. But let`s give credit to Accrington. It`s never an easy place to come to, and they played really well. They were full of energy and had bags of spirit in their side. They were excellent and took us right to the wire. They just wouldn`t go away.’
Bruce says that with the chances that did come our way in the game, we really should’ve finished it off far earlier than we did and made life easier, but we didn’t take them and that meant we were set for the lottery that is a penalty shoot out and at that stage it really becomes an ‘awkward’ night and he knows it could’ve been an ’embarrassing’ trip home but thankfully that wasn’t the case.
There were positives on the day though, largely the performances of on loan Arsenal player Chuba Akpom and 20 year old youngster Greg Luer who scored his first professional goal on the evening.
‘Chuba looks okay, doesn`t he? I`m delighted for Greg, too. It just shows how football can work sometimes. We took him from Burgess Hill Town last year and he nearly missed this game after getting a bad cut above his eye on Monday. Greg is like all of the young ones at the moment, they`re all making a fist of it and it`s great to see. Young Matty Dixon has also come on in extra time to make his first team debut as well. The experience of last night will do them well.’
Share this article
Related Articles
