Jaffa82
Academy Prospect
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2026
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Hull City 0-4 Chelsea | FA Cup Fourth Round | 13th February 2026
Friday night's FA Cup tie against Chelsea has left a bitter taste, and not just because of the 4-0 scoreline. Watching Liam Rosenior — our Liam Rosenior — dismantle us with such clinical efficiency was particularly hard to swallow.
The Match Recap
Pedro Neto's hat-trick tells the story on paper, but the reality was far more frustrating. We actually started brightly — Liam Millar had a decent early chance, and for the first 20 minutes, we looked like we could cause problems on the counter.
Then came that moment. Dillon Phillips' clearance deflected off Liam Delap onto the bar. The entire MKM Stadium held its breath as the ball bounced on the line. No goal. But it felt like a warning we didn't heed.
Neto opened the scoring shortly after, and from there, it was damage limitation. His second — scored directly from a corner that slipped through Phillips' legs — was particularly cruel. By the time Estêvão and Neto's third went in, the snow was falling and so were our hopes.
The Rosenior Factor
Let's address the elephant in the room. Seeing Rosenior on the opposite touchline hurt.
This is the man who:
Now he's managing Chelsea, he's just beaten us 4-0, and he's still saying he hopes we make the Premier League this year. The man showed us no mercy — bringing on Enzo Fernández at 3-0 up — yet remained gracious in his post-match interview.
Fair play to him, but it stings.
The Bigger Picture: Play-Off Push
Here's what matters: we're still 4th in the Championship with 15 games to go.
Yes, Friday was embarrassing. Yes, we got outclassed by a Premier League side. But let's not lose sight of what Jakirović has built since taking over:
The FA Cup was always a bonus. Our season is defined by what happens in the league, and right now, we're in the play-offs.
Squad Concerns
The injury list remains concerning:
Add in the transfer restrictions (we can only sign free agents and loans until July 2026), and Jakirović is doing well to keep us competitive.
What's Next?
Time to put this behind us and focus on the league. We've got massive games coming up, and every point matters if we want to be playing Premier League football next season.
The FA Cup dream is over, but the real dream — automatic promotion — is still very much alive.
Over to You, Tigers Fans:
Discussion Points:
Let's hear your thoughts. Whether you're fuming, philosophical, or somewhere in between — this is your space to have your say.
COME ON YOU TIGERS!
Friday night's FA Cup tie against Chelsea has left a bitter taste, and not just because of the 4-0 scoreline. Watching Liam Rosenior — our Liam Rosenior — dismantle us with such clinical efficiency was particularly hard to swallow.
The Match Recap
Pedro Neto's hat-trick tells the story on paper, but the reality was far more frustrating. We actually started brightly — Liam Millar had a decent early chance, and for the first 20 minutes, we looked like we could cause problems on the counter.
Then came that moment. Dillon Phillips' clearance deflected off Liam Delap onto the bar. The entire MKM Stadium held its breath as the ball bounced on the line. No goal. But it felt like a warning we didn't heed.
Neto opened the scoring shortly after, and from there, it was damage limitation. His second — scored directly from a corner that slipped through Phillips' legs — was particularly cruel. By the time Estêvão and Neto's third went in, the snow was falling and so were our hopes.
The Rosenior Factor
Let's address the elephant in the room. Seeing Rosenior on the opposite touchline hurt.
This is the man who:
- Nearly got us promoted in 2023-24
- Was nominated for Championship Manager of the Season
- Built a side that played some of the best football we've seen in years
- Got sacked for finishing seventh and missing the play-offs on the final day
Now he's managing Chelsea, he's just beaten us 4-0, and he's still saying he hopes we make the Premier League this year. The man showed us no mercy — bringing on Enzo Fernández at 3-0 up — yet remained gracious in his post-match interview.
Fair play to him, but it stings.
The Bigger Picture: Play-Off Push
Here's what matters: we're still 4th in the Championship with 15 games to go.
Yes, Friday was embarrassing. Yes, we got outclassed by a Premier League side. But let's not lose sight of what Jakirović has built since taking over:
- We're in the automatic promotion conversation
- Lewie Coyle just signed a new deal until 2029
- Yū Hirakawa has added quality on loan from Bristol City
- We've won crucial games against Portsmouth, West Brom, and Millwall recently
The FA Cup was always a bonus. Our season is defined by what happens in the league, and right now, we're in the play-offs.
Squad Concerns
The injury list remains concerning:
- Mohamed Belloumi - Just back from ACL injury
- Darko Gyabi - Still sidelined
- Matt Crooks - Out
- Semi Ajayi - Missing
- Eliot Matazo - Unavailable
Add in the transfer restrictions (we can only sign free agents and loans until July 2026), and Jakirović is doing well to keep us competitive.
What's Next?
Time to put this behind us and focus on the league. We've got massive games coming up, and every point matters if we want to be playing Premier League football next season.
The FA Cup dream is over, but the real dream — automatic promotion — is still very much alive.
Over to You, Tigers Fans:
Discussion Points:
- How did you feel watching Rosenior celebrate that win?
- Was Friday's performance a reality check, or just one bad night?
- Can we sustain this play-off push with our current injury crisis?
- Who impressed you despite the scoreline?
- What's your predicted finish for the season?
Let's hear your thoughts. Whether you're fuming, philosophical, or somewhere in between — this is your space to have your say.
COME ON YOU TIGERS!
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