Hull City took a huge step towards a Wembley appearance after a 2-0 win over ten-man Watford.
Visitors secure play-off advantage thanks to veterans
Hull City took a huge step towards a Championship play-off final appearance after a 2-0 win over ten-man Watford.
First-half goals from veteran pair Nick Barmby and Dean Windass put the Tigers firmly en route for Wembley ahead of the second-leg at the KC Stadium.
The Hornets were left to feel aggrieved when referee Kevin Friend disallowed an early header from Danny Shittu who later went off injured and would appear a major doubt for Wednesday's second leg.
To make matters worse for Adrian Boothroyd's men, skipper John Eustace was given a straight red card after a second-half scuffle.
The ten men battled well to get back into the tie but were repeatedly denied by an inspired display from Tigers keeper Boaz Myhill.
The visitors even had chances to extend their lead but substitute Nathan Doyle saw his effort come back off the post while Fraizer Campbell squandered a couple of clear openings.
Hull remains the largest city in Europe never to have hosted top flight football but they kept their Premier League dreams alive thanks to the veteran duo who were both born in the city.
The Hornets' slide down the table saw them make the play-offs by a single goal but they should have had the lead in the fourth minute.
Jobi McAnuff's left-wing corner was headed in by Shittu but referee Friend disallowed the goal for an alleged infringement by Leigh Bromby on goalkeeper Myhill.
Harsh
It appeared a harsh decision and was made instantly worse as the visitors took the lead in the eighth minute.
A punt forward was badly misjudged by Shittu and after he collided with Mat Sadler and Fraizer Campbell latched on to the loose ball down the right.
The on-loan Manchester United striker raced into the area and cut the ball back perfectly for Barmby who stroked a low shot from the penalty spot which squirmed under Richard Lee and into the corner.
McAnuff then created a chance for Nathan Ellington with a good run but the striker could only chest the ball away before the rampant Tigers doubled their lead in the 23rd minute.
A flowing move saw the play switch to Barmby who had engineered space on the left and he fed the overlapping Andy Dawson.
The full-back dug out a cross which Campbell met with a powerful header. The ball struck Bromby and then the crossbar before Windass reacted to head home into the roof of the net.
Improve
Boothroyd's side had to improve after the break and started well to twice go close in the opening five minutes.
First a trademark long throw by Bromby was flicked onto the top of the crossbar by Shittu before Sadler was denied by a phenomenal piece of goalkeeping from Myhill.
Shittu found himself on the left wing following a set-piece and his cross found Sadler unmarked in the centre of the area.
The left-back cracked a volley which was destined for the top corner only to see Myhill produce an amazing one-handed save to keep it out.
The hosts were pouring forward but suffered a hammer blow on the hour mark when Eustace saw red for the second time since joining from Stoke in January.
Bromby put in a crunching tackle on Richard Garcia then Eustace arrived late to put his boot in and Friend produced the red card.
The visitors started to come back into the game as their extra man began to pay off and Campbell spurned a great chance to make it three when he ran clean through but shot straight at Lee.
The hosts switched to a 3-2-4 formation as Boothroyd threw on Tamas Priskin in search of a goal and the substitute drew another decent stop from Myhill with a stinging drive.
But it was Hull sub Nathan Doyle who came closest to adding to the scores when his left-footed curler from the edge of the area beat Lee but rebounded out off the inside of the post.
