By Matthew Brady
Hull City have no time to grieve for their elimination from both cup competitions, as Premier League survival takes centre stage for them again against Manchester United on Wednesday.
They make the daunting trip to Old Trafford following a 4-1 trouncing in the FA Cup at the hands of Championship side Fulham, a result that dashed their dreams of a trip to Wembley.
It came just three days after bowing out of the EFL Cup semi-finals, despite victory on the night against – guess who – Manchester United, who will also be their adversaries on Wednesday.
The results coupled with the end of the Robert Snodgrass transfer saga, which saw the Scot sign for West Ham for £10m, will have Hull fans feeling like they need a miracle in Manchester.
But Tigers fans can find some solace in the fact that they were able to overcome the Red Devils at the KCOM last week – with new signing and Everton loanee Oumar Niasse scoring the winning goal.
Niasse isn’t the only new face at the KCOM Stadium, with new manager Marco Silva, once dubbed the ‘next Mourinho’, signing midfielder Evandro from Porto as he tries to put his stamp on the side.
Marco Silva certainly has had an effect on the Humberside outfit, who have now won their last three home games, yet the debacle at the Cottage proves their away form still leaves a lot to be desired.
The club are also having to act quickly to replace midfield lynchpin Snodgrass and are already being linked with an ambitious move for Valencia winger Nani.
It won’t get any easier for Hull City following Wednesday, as they then face two more members of the current top six, as they welcome out-of-form Liverpool to Yorkshire before travelling to Arsenal.
United on the other hand find themselves in a very different position. Having wrapped up a trip to Wembley against Southampton in the EFL Cup final, only a win will do.
Mourinho’s side continue an assault on all four fronts after securing safe passage to the FA Cup round of 16 this weekend, with a thumping 4-0 win against Wigan.