NUFC Blog: Newcastle 'should have won' as Hull go through to last four in EFL Cup

Newcastle United’s bid to the reach the last four of the EFL Cup fell apart on Humberside as ten-man Hull City progressed at the KComm Stadium.

Despite dominating the possession and having a numerical advantage for extra time, the Magpies couldn’t find the net more than once during regulation time. Their evening was summed up with the statistic that Rafa Benitez’s men peppered the Hull goal with 32 shots but with only 5 on target, theToon finishing was criminal at best.

Even so, Newcastle should have won.

For long periods of the game, they swamped their Premier League opponents, forcing them onto the back foot but with few clear-cut opportunities created, were susceptible to the counter-attack.

Benitez rested a number of players on Saturday ahead of tonight’s cup tie, hoping to secure three points and a semi-final berth; he’s got neither and must rally the troops for Friday night’s trip to the City Ground.

Newcastle’s passing in midfield was accurate and slick but once they reached the Hull area, crosses found only defenders heads or were so wayward the possession was quickly ceded.

United did manage some efforts on target in the first half but found Jakupovic in the Tigers goal in irrepressible form. Gayle was the first to be denied, the Hull ‘keeper turning his low drive to safety.

Diame had two decent opportunities but never made anything of them whilst at the other end Snodgrass was equally wasteful.

The half’s controversial moment game when a blatant shove in the back by Elmohamady on Gayle went unpunished in the penalty area. The lack of quality which Newcastle would later display suggests that they would probably have missed the spot kick had it been awarded.

Hayden and Diame both had subsequent attempts that didn’t hit the target and the teams left the pitch at half-time to indifference from the home fans and optimism from the travelling Toon Army.

The second half was more of the same. Wild shots, cheaply ceded possession and not a lot else until the niggly atmosphere came to a head with one minute remaining.

Mbokani was fouled by Lascelles and a confrontation ensued. The Hull player aimed a sly kick and then trying to head butt the Newcastle captain. The ensuing red card handed Newcastle a significant advantage.

Having failed to manage a shot on target in the second half, Clark hit one straight at Jakupovic before Lazaar rattled the crossbar with a ferocious shot from close range.

Extra time was livening up.

Hull were buckling under the pressure of wave after wave of Newcastle attack.

Their resistance broke halfway through the first period; Gayle flicked Shelvey’s corner into the path of Diame and the former Hull player scored from close range.

One foot in the last four, all it required was for Newcastle to keep their heads.

They didn’t; a minute later the Tigers were level. Henriksen let fly from twenty yards, Sels fumbled and Snodgrass pounced to score.

Gayle had a header saved early in the second period but as tiredness crept in, the Magpies leading scorer became ever more wasteful in front of goal.

It was Hull’s chance to waste the game’s final opportunity, sprinting clear of the defence, he tried to round Sels but under pressure from Clark his control let him down and the Austrian grabbed the ball.

Penalties it was and Lascelles urged the Toon Army to raise their voices. A shame he didn’t get the players to raise theirs.

Shelvey set the standard with an appalling penalty which was easily saved and then Gayle took it lower, hitting the top of the bar with his.

Atsu gave brief respite but Hull were efficiently scoring their penalties and the misery ended when Gouffran’s woeful effort didn’t find the back of the net.