Southend 0 Hull City 2: Steve Bruce relieved to avoid upset
Southend 0 Hull City 2: Steve Bruce expresses his relief to avoid an upset after the Tigers battled to victory
Steve Bruce expressed his relief to avoid a FA Cup upset after Hull City battled past Southend and the conditions to reach the fifth round.
Former Tigers boss Phil Brown witnessed his side spurn several chances to take the lead against their Premier League opponents in the first half before Hull midfielder David Meyler teed up Matty Fryatt to make the breakthrough in the 66th minute.
It had all the ingredients for an upset and we had to stand up and be counted
Steve Bruce
And the visitors sealed their progress on the stroke of full-time when Tigers striker Fryatt scored his second, with Bruce reserving special praise for the Hull match-winner following his return from injury.
“As we stand here now it’s hurricane conditions,” Bruce told BBC Sport.
“It had all the ingredients for an upset and we had to stand up and be counted. We matched their endeavour, they threw everything at us but that little bit of quality shone through with us.”
He added: “Matty Fryatt got injured in his very first game for me, he was out for 13 months and then went out on loan but since then he’s been excellent for me.
“He showed what a good player he is, his second goal was outstanding. You are only as good as your strikers, we’ve brought in a couple and it is looking good in that department.”
