A comprehensive match by Hull City stunned the Cardiff City fans, as the visitors defended well and played even better on the counter to defeat Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 3-0.
The visitors continue to show why they are the most impressive of the three newly promoted sides, as deadline signing Nikica Jelavic received outstanding service and didn’t disappoint with his chances for a brace.
Both sides started sloppy, as possession went back and forth, and the opening chance fell to Wilfried Zaha as he chopped his way into the box, cut inside and stung one at Allan McGregor, who parried up.
Minutes later Kenwyne Jones got free and should have scored for Cardiff as well, but McGregor again came to the rescue, saving low.
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Goalkeeping starred on the other end as well, but it wouldn’t last. Jelavic had all kinds of time and space in the box on a break in the 19th minute, but he was denied on his turn-and-shoot attempt by David Marshall after losing his defender with a fake.
The save, however, popped back out to Jake Livermore, who laid off to Tom Huddlestone for the low shot, which deflected off Andrew Taylor and slotted into the bottom corner.
Cardiff, despite being down, found themselves with much of the possession going forward, but still found few chances on goal. Jones had another crack on 35 minutes but went wide left with a header.
With all the home possession, it fell for Hull again on the counter before the break, and the visitors shocked the home fans with another strike which, unlike Cardiff, they didn’t waste.
Elmohamady blasted down the left touchline, stopped, and cut back for Jelavic who didn’t need a touch before slotting home, stunning the home crowd for a 2-0 lead.
The visitors nearly put it out of sight on the first possession of the second half, as another cross from Elmohamady found Liam Rosenoir who poked to Jelavic but the striker fired over from close range.
They would put it away though, as Jelavic picked up his second and Cardiff’s third on 57 minutes. It was a simple goal, as a cross came in from Rosenoir straight to the Croatian with space who headed to the far post and in.
Hull City weren’t done yet, as another counter-attack saw Elmohamady find Livermore who made no mistakes for a 4-0 dominating lead, as an exhausted home side had no answer.
McGregor preserved the clean sheet with 15 minutes to go as Craig Noone worked through the box well and shot low but the keeper dove to keep it out.
Thanks to a Fulham draw, Cardiff City are just a point off the bottom, making their decision to sack Malky Mackay look worse and worse by the day. Steve Bruce, meanwhile, sees his side jump to 30 points all the way up to 10th in the crowded middle of the table.
LINEUPS
Cardiff City: Marshall; Taylor, Caulker, Cala, Fabio; Zaha (Daehli 45'), Cowie, Eikrem, Noone; Campbell, Jones.
Hull City: McGregor; Rosenoir, Figueroa, Bruce, Davies; Meyler, Huddlestone (Boyd 63'), Livermore, Elmohamady; Long, Jelavic.
Goals: Huddlestone (19), Jelavic (38, 57) Livermore (67)
