Hull City booked their place in the FA Cup fifth round with a 2-0 win over Millwall in a match marred by crowd trouble.
Rival fans clash as City advance to round five
Hull City booked their place in the FA Cup fifth round with a 2-0 win over Millwall in a match marred by crowd trouble.
A goal in each half saw the Tigers through in a largely forgettable encounter although the contest is likely to be best remembered for some unsavoury incidents off the field.
Riot police were called in before the kick-off as visiting supporters charged home fans in the north east corner of the ground.
And as the game slipped away from the Lions following Ian Ashbee's fine strike to put the Tigers two goals up following Michael Turner's opener, visiting supporters appeared to rip up and hurl seats at home fans.
As the final whistle sounded, mounted police made their way onto the pitch to make sure trouble did not spill onto the playing area.
Some Tigers fans stayed behind at the final whistle to taunt their visitors but fortunately the rival groups were kept apart by scores of stewards and police.
On the pitch, the game lacked quality and was littered with fouls from both sides. Referee Stuart Attwell was kept busy and booked six players in the second half.
Yet Hull always looked the stronger side and had the better of possession throughout.
Millwall lacked bite but were never out of the game and former Lions goalkeeper Tony Warner looked uneasy on his first City start.
Peter Halmosi had the first opportunity of the game with a long-range shot straight at David Forde.
Hull made their superiority count in 15th minute as Turner further underlined the danger he poses from set-pieces.
The hosts won a free-kick on the right after Sam Ricketts was fouled by Andy Frampton and Andy Dawson, returning after two months out injured, crossed for Turner to head home.
Frampton then escaped a penalty claim after Hull appealed for handball following a Ricketts cross.
Stumbled
Izale McLeod, making his full debut after joining on loan from Charlton, had Millwall's first opportunity after jinking into the area but his scuffed shot did not trouble Warner.
Hull survived a real scare after 33 minutes following a howler by Warner.
The Hull keeper stumbled after failing to control a routine back pass from Ashbee and was forced to dive on the ball as McLeod threatened to nip in and score.
Attwell had no option other than to give an indirect free-kick inside the area but Warner was spared further emabarrassment as Lewis Grabban shot wide.
Dawson required treatment for a head injury shortly before the interval after a collision which Hull felt warranted further action from Attwell.
Millwall should have equalised in first-half injury time when McLeod nodded down a David Martin cross but Marc Laird missed the target.
Manucho had his first chance five minutes into the second half but shot well over from Halmosi's cross.
The game became even scrappier but Hull looked the stronger side and Dean Marney was the next to have an opportunity with a strong run and shot, which was blocked.
Nicky Featherstone replaced Halmosi after 65 minutes and crossed for Manucho but the Angola international headed straight at Forde.
Caleb Folan came on for Manucho and was soon in Attwell's book after fouling Chris Hackett.
Hull skipper Ashbee wrapped up the game with his stunning effort late on.
Hull countered and Ashbee powered forward to blast home from the edge of the box after being set up by Daniel Cousin.
It was a rare moment of brilliance on an uninspiring afternoon but the game soon returned to type with Folan lucky to escape a second booking for another foul.
The final whistle was greeted by the sight of mounted police riding up the side of the pitch to prevent a repeat of earlier trouble.
Fortunately the ground appeared to empty without any further clashes.
| Team Name |
Hull City |
Millwall |
| Possession |
60% |
40% |
| Goals |
2 |
0 |
| Shots On Target |
4 |
1 |
| Shots Off Target |
5 |
4 |
| Blocked Shots |
1 |
0 |
| Corners |
5 |
3 |
| Fouls Conceded |
7 |
25 |
| Offsides |
9 |
1 |
| Yellow Cards |
1 |
4 |
| Red Cards |
0 |
0 |
|
