It was no surprise when jokes surfaced that the Fourth Round draw of this season’s FA Cup was ‘rigged’ as Joe Cole and Steve McManaman set up the Tigers’ tie with Chelsea.
It was also hardly surprising that City would be at the forefront of the nation’s Friday night viewing as a result.
To a certain extent, a reunion with former boss Liam Rosenior so soon after he took up the Stamford Bridge post, had shades of when Arsenal were City’s opponents for a following two seasons in the Third and Fifth Rounds after crushing the 110-year dreams of a fanbase under the Wembley arch.
These nights at the MKM Stadium have been extremely few and far between in recent seasons, as has been well-documented. This is an occasion that should be cherished, but also one that should be seen as a reminder of ‘what could be’ in the near future if the previously ‘unthinkable’ was to happen in the final months of this season, or, indeed, the coming campaigns.
The build-up, again, unsurprisingly, has been dominated with storylines referencing Rosenior’s upwardly-mobile trajectory as a head coach since his controversial sacking 21 months ago.
Is this important. Yes, and no. It’s clear his love for the Tigers hasn’t diminished a single bit despite what occurred in May 2024. And, as Acun Ilicali has stated, his play-style could, in time, be successful with a group of high-class footballers, which is certainly the case when one player in the Blues’ ranks is worth more than City’s ESTIMATED market value.
This, of course, is a chance for the vast majority of the sell-out crowd to give thanks to a figure who brought belief and a winning culture back to HU3 for large parts of his tenure. In reality, the sentiment should be parked at the first of Farai Hallam’s whistles, and potentially be reserved until after full-time, irrespective of the result.
Whether it will, of course, is a different matter. If it doesn’t, you would like a penny for the thoughts of Sergej Jakirovic, who, like Rosenior, has transformed the outlook of the club – and some – in just 33 competitive matches.
After two below-par league performances, it’s an opportunity for several of these players to instantly put things right, and, in some cases, test their current ability and potential against the ‘World champions’.
It has already been claimed that Dillon Phillips will start in goal. In fairness, this is a fully merited decision after his shootout heroics in Round Three which went a long way to setting up this tie, whilst the main concern is over Charlie Hughes’ fitness.
Ultimately, securing a play-off berth is far more important at this stage, but you can’t help but feel for the 22-year-old if his groin issue denies him the chance to showcase his skillset to the watching public.
Rosenior, to his credit, has also praised the winning mentality which Jakirovic has instilled, and it will certainly be intriguing to see whether his defence – who may still be reeling over their controversial draw against Leeds – can handle Oli McBurnie’s prowess and, we’ll go with ‘…housery’.
Here’s hoping that City’s latest FA Cup ‘storyline’ ends on a much more positive note than the three-peat of draws against Arsenal, and that a first fifth round tie in eight years lies in wait.
hcafcHub 